Tara Trujillo, who's been Mark Udall's congressional communications director, was named Udall's U.S. Senate campaign spokesperson Wednesday.

Trujillo will take over the day-to-day media requests and scheduling for the campaign from campaign communications director Taylor West. She's taking a leave of absence from her congressional position to work with the campaign, a press release stated.

Trujillo's hiring will allow West to focus on larger issues within the campaign, West said.

"Tara has been a critical part of my Congressional office team and our ability to get things done for the people of Colorado," said Udall in a statement.  "I am very fortunate that she’ll now bring her considerable skills and insight to the important work that lies ahead for this campaign."

Trujillo, a native of Pueblo, is a former communications director for House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D-Denver). Before that, she was the news director for Clear Channel Radio in Pueblo and a morning producer for Pueblo's KOAA-TV.