Elizabeth New (Hovde) grew up in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and political science from Western Washington University. That's where her newspaper career began, writing political opinion columns for The Bellingham Herald. 

After graduation, Elizabeth became the communications director for the Washington Family Council, crafting legislative testimony, press releases and articles for various council publications. She was recruited away by The Columbian newspaper in Southwest Washington and spent the next decade as an editorial board member and columnist, winning several Society of Professional Journalists awards. Elizabeth enjoyed another 10 years as a political columnist for The Oregonian. 

Elizabeth also has taught journalism, as an adjunct professor at Washington State University Vancouver.

Over the years, her volunteerism has included prison outreach, helping in public schools, writing for her neighborhood association and participating in area cleanups. She lives in Vancouver, Washington.