Ben LaBolt

Ben LaBolt
Senior Advisor to the President
for Communications
In office
August 8, 2024 – January 20, 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byAnita Dunn
White House Communications Director
In office
March 1, 2023 – January 20, 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
DeputyHerbie Ziskend
Preceded byKate Bedingfield
Succeeded bySteven Cheung
Personal details
Born (1981-08-20) August 20, 1981 (age 43)
Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationMiddlebury College (BA)

Ben LaBolt (born August 20, 1981) is an American political advisor who served as the White House Communications Director for President Joe Biden. He succeeded Kate Bedingfield in the role when she stepped down at the end of February 2023. In August 2024, LaBolt was promoted to Senior Advisor to the President succeeding Anita Dunn after her departure. [1] 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 was born August 20, 1981.[2] He 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 and volunteered on Howard Dean's 2000 reelection campaign as governor of Vermont.[3]

Career

LaBolt's first job out of college was for Dean's 2004 presidential campaign. He worked as the press secretary for U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky,[3] 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.[4] In the White House, he worked on communications during the Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan Supreme Court nominations.[5]

In October 2010, LaBolt became communications director for Rahm Emanuel during the 2011 Chicago mayoral election.[6] After the campaign, he served as the national press secretary for Obama's 2012 presidential campaign.[4]

In June 2013, LaBolt and Robert Gibbs co-founded a strategic communications practice called The Incite Agency,[7] which later merged with Bully Pulpit Interactive (BPI).[8] LaBolt became a partner at BPI.[6]

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.[5][8] He succeeded Kate Bedingfield as White House Communications Director on March 1, 2023.[9][10] In August 2024, LaBolt was promoted to Senior Advisor to the President, taking on broad strategy and advising the president.[11]

Personal life

LaBolt is openly gay, and is the first openly gay White House Communications Director.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ Mike Allen (August 8, 2024). "Ben LaBolt, Biden communications director, promoted to senior adviser". Axios.
  2. ^ Allen, Mike (August 20, 2008). "76 trombones – Birthday girl: Mary Matalin – Ben LaBolt is 27 today". Politico. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Felsenthal, Carol (January 2, 2014). "La Grange's Ben LaBolt goes to Washington—and Stays". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b "Ben LaBolt: BP oil spill tested mettle". Chicago Tribune. September 30, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  7. ^ Blake, Aaron (June 13, 2013). "Ex-Obama spokesmen Gibbs, LaBolt launch new practice". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Scherer, Michael (February 10, 2023). "Ben LaBolt tapped to become White House communications director". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Watson, Kathryn (February 10, 2023). "Ben LaBolt to replace Kate Bedingfield as White House communications director". CBS News. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  10. ^ Parnes, Amie (February 27, 2023). "Looking for a new voice, Biden turns to Obama veteran". The Hill. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  11. ^ Mike Allen (August 8, 2024). "Ben LaBolt, Biden communications director, promoted to senior adviser". Axios.
Government offices
Preceded by White House Communications Director
2023–present 		Succeeded by
Steven Cheung
Designate