Betsy Lin

Betsy Lin is a national strategist working at the intersection of politics, advocacy and campaigns. As the founder of beelinning strategies, Betsy leverages her over two decades of experience across the Senate, federal campaigns, and multi-million dollar organizations to help her clients craft strategic plans and drive high-impact results.

Betsy served as Chief of Staff to United States Senator Mazie Hirono after running her historic race to be the first woman to represent the state of Hawaii and first Asian American and first immigrant woman to serve in the role of United States Senator. Betsy herself was the only Asian American female chief to serve during her seven years in the Senate, positioning the Senator throughout her term as a leader on comprehensive immigration reform, women’s rights, and as a conscientious voice on US military engagement in the foreign policy space. Betsy spent the first five years traveling between Washington DC and the state, helping the Senator enact her campaign promises and building out her profile with press and constituents across all 8 islands. In Washington DC, Betsy managed the high stakes relationships with other Members of Congress, DC and Hawaii based stakeholders and built out one of the top three diverse offices in the US Senate.

In 2018, Betsy was named head of Everybody Votes Campaign, dedicated to right-sizing the registration gaps in historically disenfranchised communities. She grew the organization, budget, staff and footprint while managing relationships with state and local based partners. Betsy led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice uprisings, balancing the needs of partners and funders.

Prior to serving in these executive roles, Betsy started her Hill career serving as deputy Chief of Staff for Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota managing his appropriations portfolio for the state.

During the 2008 cycle, Betsy worked as a deputy political director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), where she directly advised and supported seven US Senate campaigns, making spending recommendations and bringing home wins in 4 of the races that year. She came to the DSCC from Hawaii as Senator Akaka’s field director in 2006, fresh off the massive health care organizing campaign as a community political organizer for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in Southern California.

Betsy is the proud daughter of immigrants and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Throughout her life, Betsy has often found herself in the role of the interpreter and connector, and these threads continue through her work. Betsy can effectively navigate and shape the national political landscape, with a deep commitment to community-based grassroots leaders and building bridges between different world views. When she’s not working, you can find her on her surfboard in search of the perfect wave.