<Ul> <Li> Téa Leoni as Elizabeth `` Bess '' Adams McCord , the United States Secretary of State . She spent twenty years as a CIA analyst before becoming a professor of political science at the University of Virginia . She was selected by her old boss , Conrad Dalton , who is now the President of the United States , to replace Secretary of State Vincent Marsh , who died in a plane crash . </Li> <Li> Tim Daly as Henry McCord , Elizabeth 's husband of 25 years . A former Marine captain aviator during Operation Desert Storm and theology professor , his unique blend of skills are sought by the National Security Agency , which engages him as an operative in combating religious extremism . At the end of season 3 , Henry is named the head of the CIA Special Activities Division . </Li> <Li> Bebe Neuwirth as Nadine Tolliver ( seasons 1 -- 4 ) , Elizabeth 's chief of staff who had a six - year affair with the deceased Secretary of State , Vincent Marsh , beginning when he was a senator . Originally suspicious and resentful of the new Secretary of State , Nadine soon learns to trust Elizabeth , and the two cultivate a strong working relationship . In season 1 , Nadine slowly began to date again , romancing the Administrator of NASA , Glenn , and later fell into a relationship with the recurring political consultant Mike Barnow . In season 4 , Nadine leaves the State Department to spend more time with her family . </Li> <Li> Željko Ivanek as Russell Jackson , White House Chief of Staff . His primary objective of keeping the President politically secure at home and abroad sets him up for occasional confrontations with Secretary McCord 's unorthodox diplomatic maneuvering . </Li> <Li> Erich Bergen as Blake Moran , Elizabeth 's personal assistant , and the only member of her staff that she hired rather than inherited . After Nadine leaves in season 4 he becomes Elizabeth 's acting chief of staff . </Li> <Li> Patina Miller as Daisy Grant , Elizabeth 's press coordinator . Daisy dates Matt during season 1 but goes on to date other men following their breakup . In season 3 she dates `` Kevin '' from Budget and Planning , who turns out to be an undercover operative for the CIA investigating the State Department . He is killed in a weapons - trafficking conspiracy , and Daisy subsequently finds herself pregnant with his child . </Li> <Li> Geoffrey Arend as Matt Mahoney , Elizabeth 's speechwriter . Matt and Daisy dated during season 1 , but ended things . </Li> <Li> Wallis Currie - Wood as Stephanie `` Stevie '' McCord , Elizabeth and Henry 's older daughter . Stevie attended Lovell University and later Georgetown University and applied to Harvard Law school . Stevie serves as an intern to Russell Jackson and was , for a time , engaged to Jareth Glover . She has an affair with Dmitri Petrov ( then undercover ) in season 4 that puts her in danger . </Li> <Li> Kathrine Herzer as Alison McCord , Elizabeth and Henry 's younger daughter . Alison planned to attend Rafferty College to pursue her dreams of fashion and design , but later changed her mind . </Li> <Li> Evan Roe as Jason McCord , Elizabeth and Henry 's teenage son , a self - proclaimed anarchist . Jason is critical of political systems in general , but in season 1 he was expelled from his school for punching a student who insulted Elizabeth . </Li> <Li> Keith Carradine as Conrad Dalton ( season 2 -- present ; recurring season 1 ) , the President of the United States . Conrad served in the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant during the Vietnam War and was the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency during Elizabeth 's time at the CIA . In the third season , Dalton secures reelection as an independent after failing to secure his party 's nomination , partly due to a controversial change in policy championed by Elizabeth . He offers Elizabeth the role of Vice President during his campaign , but eventually names someone else in order to further his campaign . Elizabeth remains Secretary of State . </Li> <Li> Sebastian Arcelus as Jay Whitman , Elizabeth 's current chief of staff and previous senior policy advisor ( season 3 -- present ; recurring season 1 -- 2 ) . In season 3 , it is revealed that Jay 's busy schedule working for the Secretary has strained his marriage . He is currently separated from his wife Abby , who maintains custody of their daughter
who plays chief of staff on madam secretary
Bebe Neuwirth Željko Ivanek Sebastian Arcelus