Kate Bedingfield
White House Communications Director
In office
January 20, 2021 – March 1, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
DeputyKate Berner (Principal Deputy)
Preceded byDan Scavino (White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications)
Succeeded byBen LaBolt
Personal details
Born
Katherine Joan Bedingfield

(1981-10-29) October 29, 1981
Georgia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
David Kieve
​
(m. 2013)​
Children2
EducationUniversity of Virginia (BA)

Katherine Joan Bedingfield[1] (born October 29, 1981)[2] is an American political advisor who served as the White House Communications Director in the Biden administration from 2021 to 2023. She previously served as deputy campaign manager for the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign and as communications director for Biden when he was vice president in the Obama administration.

Early life and education

Kate Bedingfield was born on October 29, 1981, and raised in Sandy Springs, Georgia.[3] Her parents are Dana H. and Sid E. Bedingfield.[1] She attended Sandy Springs Middle School and graduated from Riverwood High School.[3] She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia.[1]

Career

Career in politics

Bedingfield walks along the Colonnade of the White House with President Joe Biden in August 2021

Bedingfield worked on the John Edwards 2008 presidential campaign as spokesperson. She also served as communications director for the 2008 senate campaign for Jeanne Shaheen.[3] In 2015, Bedingfield was named communications director for then Vice President Joe Biden. She also held two additional roles in the Obama administration: director of response, and deputy director of media affairs.[4]

Bedingfield served as deputy campaign manager for the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign. Her work on the campaign led to Fortune naming Bedingfield one of the most influential people under the age of 40 in government and politics.[2]

Biden administration

In November 2020, Bedingfield was designated White House Communications Director for the Biden administration.[5] In late July 2022, Bedingfield reversed the decision announced weeks earlier to leave her position as White House Communications Director.[6]

In February 2023, Bedingfield announced that she would leave the administration at the end of the month.[7] Her position was filled by Ben LaBolt.[7]

Private sector

In November 2011, Bedingfield started working at the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). In May 2013, Bedingfield was named spokesperson and vice president of corporate communications at the MPAA.[3] After working in the Obama administration, Bedingfield returned briefly to sports and entertainment communications.[4]

Personal life

Bedingfield married David Kelley Kieve on January 12, 2013, at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C.[1] Bedingfield and Kieve have two children together.[2] Kieve currently serves as the President of the Environmental Defense Action Fund.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Katherine Bedingfield and David Kieve". The New York Times. January 13, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Kate Bedingfield | 2020 40 under 40 in Government and Politics". Fortune. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bluestein, Greg (April 25, 2019). "Joe Biden hires Atlanta native as his new spokeswoman". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Who Joe Biden is picking to fill his White House and Cabinet". Washington Post. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Biden chooses an all-female senior White House press team". Midland Daily News. Associated Press. November 29, 2020. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  6. ↑ "White House Communications Director, Set to Depart, Decides to Stay". The New York Times. July 29, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Ben LaBolt to replace Kate Bedingfield as White House communications director". CBS News. February 10, 2023.
  8. ↑ "David Kieve". Environmental Defense Action Fund. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
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