<P> Madam Secretary is an American political drama television series created by Barbara Hall and executive produced by Lori McCreary and Morgan Freeman . It stars Téa Leoni as Elizabeth McCord . The series premiered on September 21, 2014 . On October 27, 2014, CBS placed a full season order consisting of 22 episodes for the first season . On March 23, 2017, CBS renewed the series for a fourth season . In 2017, CBS sealed a multi-platform syndication deal worth an estimated $2 million per episode . On April 18, 2018, the series was renewed for a fifth season . </P> <P> Madam Secretary explores Secretary Elizabeth McCord's life as the determined United States Secretary of State . McCord drives international diplomacy, battles office politics, and circumvents protocol if needed as she negotiates worldwide issues . The show also focuses on the personal lives of the characters . </P> <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 Chloe . Jay is promoted to chief of staff in season 4 . </Li> <Li> Sara Ramirez as Kat Sandoval, Elizabeth's Policy Advisor and a former Chief of Staff to the UN Ambassador (season 4) </Li> </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>

Who plays chief of staff on madam secretary