# Kate Bedingfield

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American political advisor (born 1981)

Kate Bedingfield Bedingfield in 2020 White House Communications Director In office January 20, 2021 – March 1, 2023 President Joe Biden Deputy Kate Berner (Principal Deputy) Preceded by Stephanie Grisham Succeeded by Ben LaBolt Personal details Born Katherine Joan Bedingfield (1981-10-29) October 29, 1981 (age 44) Georgia, U.S. Party Democratic Spouse David Kieve ​ (m. 2013)​ Children 2 Education University 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](/source/White_House_Communications_Director) in the [Biden administration](/source/Biden_administration) from 2021 to 2023. She previously served as deputy [campaign manager](/source/Campaign_manager) for the [Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign](/source/Joe_Biden_2020_presidential_campaign) and as communications director for Biden when he was vice president in the [Obama administration](/source/Presidency_of_Barack_Obama).

## Early life and education

Kate Bedingfield was born on October 29, 1981, and raised in [Sandy Springs, Georgia](/source/Sandy_Springs%2C_Georgia).[3] Her parents are Dana H. and Sid E. Bedingfield. Her father is a journalism professor and a former [CNN](/source/CNN) executive. Her mother is a social media consultant.[1] Bedingfield attended Sandy Springs Middle School and graduated from [Riverwood High School](/source/Riverwood_International_Charter_School).[3] She earned her [bachelor's degree](/source/Bachelor's_degree) from the [University of Virginia](/source/University_of_Virginia).[1]

## Career

### Career in politics

Bedingfield walks along the Colonnade of the White House with [President](/source/President_of_the_United_States) [Joe Biden](/source/Joe_Biden) in August 2021

Bedingfield worked on the [John Edwards 2008 presidential campaign](/source/John_Edwards_2008_presidential_campaign) as spokesperson. She also served as communications director for the 2008 senate campaign for [Jeanne Shaheen](/source/Jeanne_Shaheen).[3] In 2015, Bedingfield was named communications director for then [Vice President](/source/Vice_President_of_the_United_States) [Joe Biden](/source/Joe_Biden). She also held two additional roles in the [Obama administration](/source/Obama_administration): director of response, and deputy director of media affairs.[4]

Bedingfield served as deputy [campaign manager](/source/Campaign_manager) for the [Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign](/source/Joe_Biden_2020_presidential_campaign). Her work on the campaign led to *[Fortune](/source/Fortune_(magazine))* 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](/source/White_House_Communications_Director) for the [Biden administration](/source/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](/source/Ben_LaBolt).[7] In July 2023, Bedingfield joined CNN as a political commentator.[8][9]

### Private sector

In November 2011, Bedingfield started working at the [Motion Picture Association of America](/source/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](/source/St._John's_Episcopal_Church%2C_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.[10]

## External links

- [Kate Bedingfield's profile](https://buildbackbetter.gov/the-administration/white-house-senior-staff/kate-bedingfield/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201129230659/https://buildbackbetter.gov/the-administration/white-house-senior-staff/kate-bedingfield/) November 29, 2020, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) from the Biden-Harris transition website

- [Kate Bedingfield](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10705505/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Appearances](https://www.c-span.org/person/?127179) on [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN)

- Bill Barrow (March 26, 2020) ["Meet the masterminds behind Biden's surge: women operatives"](https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2020/0326/Meet-the-masterminds-behind-Biden-s-surge-women-operatives) from the *[Christian Science Monitor](/source/Christian_Science_Monitor)*

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Wedding_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Wedding_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Wedding_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Wedding_1-3) ["Katherine Bedingfield and David Kieve"](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/fashion/weddings/katherine-bedingfield-david-kieve-weddings.html). *The New York Times*. January 13, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Fortune40_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Fortune40_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Fortune40_2-2) ["Kate Bedingfield | 2020 40 under 40 in Government and Politics"](https://fortune.com/40-under-40/2020/kate-bedingfield/). *Fortune*. Retrieved November 29, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bluestein_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bluestein_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Bluestein_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Bluestein_3-3) Bluestein, Greg (April 25, 2019). ["Joe Biden hires Atlanta native as his new spokeswoman"](https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/joe-biden-hires-atlanta-native-his-new-spokeswoman/wCH3kOCkhjx4hogADZ0hkM/). *The Atlanta Journal-Constitution*. Retrieved November 29, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WaPoPicks_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WaPoPicks_4-1) ["Who Joe Biden is picking to fill his White House and Cabinet"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/biden-cabinet/?itid=lk_inline_manual_3). *Washington Post*. Retrieved November 29, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Biden chooses an all-female senior White House press team"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201209143432/https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Biden-chooses-an-all-female-senior-White-House-15761698.php). *Midland Daily News*. Associated Press. November 29, 2020. Archived from [the original](https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Biden-chooses-an-all-female-senior-White-House-15761698.php) on December 9, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["White House Communications Director, Set to Depart, Decides to Stay"](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/29/us/politics/kate-bedingfield-white-house-communications-director.html?referringSource=articleShare). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. July 29, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CBSReplaces_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CBSReplaces_7-1) ["Ben LaBolt to replace Kate Bedingfield as White House communications director"](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ben-labolt-to-replace-kate-bedingfield-as-white-house-communications-director/). *[CBS News](/source/CBS_News)*. February 10, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Kate Bedingfield joins CNN as political commentator"](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/21/kate-bedingfield-joins-cnn-00107610). *POLITICO*. July 21, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Johnson, Ted (July 21, 2023). ["Kate Bedingfield Joins CNN As Political Commentator"](https://deadline.com/2023/07/kate-bedingfield-cnn-as-political-commentator-joe-biden-1235444253/). *Deadline*. Retrieved March 11, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["David Kieve"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230213012152/https://www.edfaction.org/people/david-kieve). *Environmental Defense Action Fund*. Archived from [the original](http://www.edfaction.org/people/david-kieve) on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.

Government offices Preceded by Dan Scavino as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications White House Communications Director January 20, 2021 – March 1, 2023 Succeeded by Ben LaBolt

v t e White House communications directors Klein Clawson Warren White Gergen Rafshoon Ursomarso Gergen McManus Buchanan Koehler Griscom Maseng Demarest Tutwiler Stephanopoulos Gearan Baer Lewis Ucelli Hughes Bartlett Wallace Sullivan Moran Dunn (acting) Pfeiffer Palmieri Psaki Spicer (acting) Dubke Spicer (acting) Scaramucci Hicks Shine Grisham Scavino Bedingfield LaBolt Cheung

v t e Joe Biden's Executive Office of the President Office Name Term Office Name Term White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients 2023–2025 National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan 2021–2025 White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O'Malley Dillon 2021–2025 Deputy National Security Advisor Jonathan Finer 2021–2025 White House Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed 2021–2025 Homeland Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall 2021–2025 Counselor to the President Steve Ricchetti 2021–2025 White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt 2023–2025 Deputy White House Communications Director Pili Tobar 2021–2025 Senior Advisor to the President Mike Donilon 2021–2025 Kate Berner 2021–2025 Anita Dunn 2021, 2022–2025 White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre 2022–2025 Director, Public Engagement Stephen K. Benjamin 2022–2025 Deputy Press Secretary Vacant 2022–2025 Director, Intergovernmental Affairs Tom Perez 2023–2025 Director, Speechwriting Vinay Reddy 2021–2025 Chair, Council of Economic Advisers Jared Bernstein 2023–2025 Director, Digital Strategy Rob Flaherty 2021–2025 Director, Domestic Policy Council Neera Tanden 2023–2025 Director, Legislative Affairs Shuwanza Goff 2023–2025 White House Cabinet Secretary Evan Ryan 2021–2025 Director, Presidential Personnel Gautam Raghavan 2022–2025 Director, Oval Office Operations Annie Tomasini 2021–2025 White House Staff Secretary Stefanie Feldman 2023–2025 Personal Aide to the President Stephen Goepfert 2021–2025 Director, Management and Administration Dave Noble 2022–2025 Chief of Staff to the First Lady Vacant 2022–2025 Director, Scheduling and Advance Ryan Montoya 2021–2025 Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy Arati Prabhakar 2022–2025 White House Social Secretary Carlos Elizondo 2021–2025 Director, Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young 2021–2025 Chief of Staff to the Vice President Lorraine Voles 2022–2025 United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai 2021–2025 White House Chief Usher Robert B. Downing 2021–2025 Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy Rahul Gupta 2021–2025 Director, White House Military Office Vacant 2022–2025 Chair, Council on Environmental Quality Brenda Mallory 2021–2025 (s) Indicates nominee requiring Senate confirmation.

Authority control databases SNAC

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kate Bedingfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Bedingfield) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Bedingfield?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.