Steve Kornacki, the mega popular data and polling analyst who rose to fame in the 2020 election, announced he will be leaving MSNBC.
Known for his energetic breakdowns of polling and election results (and his casual wardrobe and glasses), is leaving the network after signing a new agreement with NBC that will see him take on expanded roles across the network’s news and sports divisions.
Kornacki will be scaling back his presence on MSNBC as the network undergoes significant restructuring ahead of Comcast’s planned spinoff of its cable assets.
Under the new agreement, Kornacki’s official title becomes contributor and chief data analyst for both NBC News and NBC Sports, an NBC spokesperson confirmed.
Since joining MSNBC in 2012, Kornacki has become a fixture during election cycles, particularly praised for his high-energy analysis of polling trends and voting patterns.
His detailed breakdowns on air, often delivered with rolled-up sleeves and enthusiasm, made him a popular figure with viewers, earning him accolades including being named one of People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive” in 2020.
This shift in Kornacki’s role occurs amid significant upheaval at MSNBC, which is moving out of NBC’s shadow to an independent news channel following Comcast’s announcement earlier this year to spin off its cable properties into a separate entity.
Earlier this year, MSNBC initiated a significant restructuring that led to widespread layoffs and program cancellations — most notably the axing of “The ReidOut,” which was hosted by Joy Reid.
Reid’s departure was accompanied by the termination of most staff members associated with her program.
MSNBC management canceled “Alex Wagner Tonight” and reassigned host Alex Wagner to the role of senior political correspondent.
These decisions were part of a broader effort to revamp the network’s primetime lineup — which will now be held by stars Rachel Maddow, who hosts a once-a-week show on Monday nights, and former Joe Biden spokesperson Jen Psaki.
In January, Rashida Jones resigned as president of MSNBC amid the network’s preparations for its spinoff from Comcast.
Rebecca Kutler, formerly a senior vice president at MSNBC, was appointed as her successor in February.