People / Joel Kelsey

Person · Senate

Joel
Kelsey

CHIEF OF STAFFOffice of Senator Richard Blumenthal

Works forDRichard Blumenthal · Democratic · Connecticut

Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), managing the senator's office and policy agenda since 2017. Previously served as Legislative Director of Blumenthal's office from 2015, overseeing work on the Senate Commerce Committee as Senior Policy Advisor. Earlier worked as Legislative Director of Free Press and as Policy Analyst at Consumers Union, where he managed advocacy efforts on cable, wireless, telephone, and Internet policy. Also served as NYC outreach director and statewide campaigns coordinator for New York Public Interest Research Group.

Last year's salary

$112,849

Calendar year 2025

Career tenure

12.6y

7 roles tracked

Sponsored trips

3

$12,542 total

Career earnings

$1,911,103

Chapter I

Compensation Timeline

Summed annual salary across all tracked roles.

Preparing salary timeline...

Chapter II

Employment History

Roles are merged across compensation filings.

CHIEF OF STAFF
Senate
Oct 1, 2017 to Sep 30, 2025
SUBCOMMITTEE STAFF DIRECTOR
Senate
Jun 14, 2021 to Feb 15, 2025
CHIEF OF STAFF
Senate
Mar 10, 2022 to Aug 2, 2022
PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER
Senate
Mar 6, 2014 to Sep 15, 2017
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR
Senate
Oct 1, 2015 to Aug 15, 2017
SENIOR LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT
Senate
Apr 1, 2015 to Sep 30, 2015
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT
Senate
Feb 19, 2013 to Mar 31, 2015

Chapter III

Earlier career

Prior roles per public sources. May overlap with employment records based on salary filings above.

Legislative Director
Free Press
Policy Analyst
Consumers Union
New York City Outreach Director and Statewide Campaigns Coordinator
New York Public Interest Research Group

Chapter IV

Sponsored Travel

3 trips · $12,542 combined disclosed value.

Unknown
Employee Reimbursed Travel
Aug 13, 2024 to Aug 20, 2024
$11,844
Unknown
Employee Reimbursed Travel
Aug 13, 2024 to Aug 20, 2024
Pending
Unknown
Employee Reimbursed Travel
Oct 27, 2023 to Oct 29, 2023
$698