Ben LaBolt
Ben LaBolt | |
|---|---|
| White House Communications Director | |
Designate | |
| Assuming office February 2023 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Deputy | Kate Berner |
| Succeeding | Kate Bedingfield |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Middlebury College (BA) |
Ben LaBolt is an American political advisor who is the incoming White House Communications Director. He will succeed Kate Bedingfield in the role when she steps down at the end of February 2023. Previously, LaBolt has worked on presidential campaigns for Barack Obama and Howard Dean, as well as for Jan Schakowsky, Sherrod Brown, and Rahm Emanuel.
Early life
LaBolt is from La Grange, Illinois. He graduated from Lyons Township High School and Middlebury College, earning a bachelor's degree in political science in 2003. At Middlebury, he was president of the College Democrats.[1]
Career
LaBolt's first job out of college was for the Howard Dean 2004 presidential campaign. He worked as the press secretary for U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky,[1] for Sherrod Brown's 2006 Senate campaign, for Barack Obama's Senate office, and for his 2008 presidential campaign. He then served as a deputy White House Press Secretary during the presidency of Barack Obama.[2] In the White House, he worked on communications during the Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan Supreme Court nominations.[3]
In October 2010, LeBolt became communications director for Rahm Emanuel during the 2011 Chicago mayoral election.[4] After the campaign, he served as the national press secretary for Obama's 2012 presidential campaign.[2]
In June 2013, LaBolt and Robert Gibbs co-founded a strategic communications practice called The Incite Agency,[5] which later merged with Bully Pulpit Interactive (BPI).[6] LaBolt became a partner at BPI.[4]
LaBolt worked on the presidential transition of Joe Biden following the 2020 United States presidential election and as head of communications for the Ketanji Brown Jackson Supreme Court nomination in 2022.[3][6] He will succeed Kate Bedingfield as White House Communications Director at the end of February 2023.[7]
Personal life
LaBolt is openly gay, and will become the first openly gay White House Communications Director.[6][7]
References
- ^ a b Felsenthal, Carol (January 2, 2014). "La Grange's Ben LaBolt goes to Washington—and Stays – Chicago Magazine". Chicagomag.com. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ a b Trygstad, Kyle (April 7, 2011). "Shop Talk: Obama's 2012 Campaign Team Is Shaping Up". United States: Roll Call. Archived from the original on April 12, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
- ^ a b Mattingly, Phil (February 2, 2022). "Biden formally bringing on 3 outside advisers to play key roles in Supreme Court nomination process". CNN. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ a b "Ben LaBolt: BP oil spill tested mettle". Chicago Tribune. September 30, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ "Ex-Obama spokesmen Gibbs, LaBolt launch new practice". The Washington Post. June 13, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c Scherer, Michael (February 10, 2023). "Ben LaBolt tapped to become White House communications director". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ a b Watson, Kathryn. "Ben LaBolt to replace Kate Bedingfield as White House communications director". CBS News. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
