{{Short description|American political strategist and commentator (born 1989)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = file:SymoneDSandersTownsend (cropped).jpg | caption = Sanders in 2022 | birth_date = {{nowrap|{{Birth date and age|1989|12|10}}}} | birth_place = [[Omaha, Nebraska]], U.S. | party = [[Independent voter|Independent]] (2025–present)<br />[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (until 2025) | education = [[Creighton University]] ([[Bachelor of Business Administration|BBA]]) | spouse = {{marriage|Shawn Townsend|2022}} | website = {{URL|symonedsanders.com|Official website}} }}
'''Symone Danielle Sanders-Townsend'''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-12 |title=Symone Sanders: Biography, Net Worth, Career & Untold Facts 2025 |url=https://republicmagazine.co.uk/symone-sanders/ |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Republic Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> (born December 10, 1989)<ref name="Leibovich" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sunday's birthdays|url=http://politi.co/2BZbnQR|access-date=December 2, 2020|website=POLITICO|date=December 10, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> is an American political strategist and political commentator who hosts [[MS NOW]]'s ''The Weeknight''. A former member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], she served as national press secretary for [[Bernie Sanders]]' [[Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign|2016 presidential campaign]]. In October 2016, she was hired as a political commentator by [[CNN]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://symonedsanders.com/about|title=BIO – Symone D. Sanders|website=Symonedsanders.com|access-date=October 25, 2016|archive-date=October 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025235644/http://symonedsanders.com/about/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In April 2019, Sanders joined the 2020 presidential campaign of former vice president [[Joe Biden]] as a senior advisor,<ref name="Ebony">{{cite news|last=Floyd|first=Jessica A.|url=https://www.ebony.com/news/black-staff-matters-behind-the-scenes-biden-2020-team/|title=Black Staff Matters: Behind the Scenes with the Biden 2020 Team|work=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]|date=May 22, 2019|access-date=May 24, 2019|archive-date=May 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530084954/https://www.ebony.com/news/black-staff-matters-behind-the-scenes-biden-2020-team/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="HuffPost">{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/symone-sanders-joe-biden-campaign_n_5cc2141ce4b031dc07efc3f4|title=Ex-Bernie Sanders Press Secretary Joins Biden's Campaign As Senior Adviser|newspaper=HuffPost|date=April 25, 2019|access-date=May 18, 2019|archive-date=May 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517154644/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/symone-sanders-joe-biden-campaign_n_5cc2141ce4b031dc07efc3f4|url-status=live}}</ref> and after Biden won election, was named chief spokesperson and a senior advisor for Vice President [[Kamala Harris]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Linskey |first1=Annie |last2=Stein |first2=Jeff |title=Biden hires all-female senior communications team, names Neera Tanden director of OMB |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-hires-all-female-senior-communications-team/2020/11/29/5b60b58e-3277-11eb-a997-1f4c53d2a747_story.html |access-date=November 30, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=November 29, 2020 |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130015719/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-hires-all-female-senior-communications-team/2020/11/29/5b60b58e-3277-11eb-a997-1f4c53d2a747_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On December 2, 2021, Sanders announced her resignation from the White House to return to broadcasting.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Jasmine |last2=Vazquez |first2=Maegan |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/01/politics/symone-sanders-leaving-white-house-harris/index.html |title=Symone Sanders, Harris' chief spokesperson, to leave White House |work=[[CNN]] |date=2021-12-02 |accessdate=2021-12-02 }}</ref> She currently co-hosts MS NOW's ''[[The Weekend (2024 TV series)|The Weekend]]'' and 7 pm ET weekday broadcasts with [[Alicia Menendez]] and [[Michael Steele]].
==Early life and education== Sanders was raised in [[North Omaha, Nebraska]].<ref name="Sanderford">{{cite news |last1=Sanderford |first1=Aaron |title=Omaha's Symone Sanders will be chief spokeswoman for VP-elect Kamala Harris |url=https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/omahas-symone-sanders-will-be-chief-spokeswoman-for-vp-elect-kamala-harris/article_0c8e95f0-b6fc-51b3-983a-593bc7d9c2e3.html |access-date=November 30, 2020 |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=November 29, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130042009/https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/omahas-symone-sanders-will-be-chief-spokeswoman-for-vp-elect-kamala-harris/article_0c8e95f0-b6fc-51b3-983a-593bc7d9c2e3.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Her father, Daniel Sanders, is retired from the [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]].<ref name=O>{{cite news|url=http://www.omaha.com/news/politics/creighton-grad-symone-sanders-brings-trademark-energy-to-role-as/article_1683e000-ed83-51e9-a231-c7b910040f80.html|title=Creighton grad Symone Sanders brings trademark energy to role as Bernie Sanders' press secretary|author=Tysver, Robynn|newspaper=Omaha.com|access-date=October 25, 2016|archive-date=July 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723122904/https://www.omaha.com/news/politics/creighton-grad-symone-sanders-brings-trademark-energy-to-role-as/article_1683e000-ed83-51e9-a231-c7b910040f80.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Her mother, Terri Sanders, is the former publisher of the ''[[Omaha Star]]'' and former executive director for the [[Great Plains Black History Museum]].<ref name="Sanderford" /><ref name=O/>
She attended Sacred Heart Catholic School.<ref name="npt_030420">{{cite news |title='We just saw what was happening and jumped in': Omaha's Symone Sanders on that protester takedown |url=https://nptelegraph.com/townnews/politics/we-just-saw-what-was-happening-and-jumped-in-omaha/article_dad8b8e4-2d2c-5cd2-97ef-9ab08b707606.html |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=The North Platte Telegraph |date=March 4, 2020 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026164923/https://nptelegraph.com/townnews/politics/we-just-saw-what-was-happening-and-jumped-in-omaha/article_dad8b8e4-2d2c-5cd2-97ef-9ab08b707606.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As a child, Sanders wanted to grow up to host her own television show. She used to walk around the house acting as Donna Burns, an imaginary television host.<ref name="Leibovich">{{cite news |last1=Leibovich |first1=Mark |title=Symone Sanders Bet on Biden, and Herself |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/us/politics/symone-sanders-joe-biden.html |access-date=2023-08-03 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=limited |language=en |date=July 3, 2020 |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203064355/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/us/politics/symone-sanders-joe-biden.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Her first job was working at Time Out Foods in [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]], a Black-owned restaurant.<ref name="Feller">{{cite web |last1=Feller |first1=Madison |title=From Bernie to Biden: Symone Sanders on Her Historic Career and What's Next |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a34063328/symone-sanders-career-interview/ |website=ELLE |access-date=November 30, 2020 |date=September 24, 2020 |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217174018/https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a34063328/symone-sanders-career-interview/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She graduated in 2008 from [[Mercy High School (Omaha, Nebraska)|Mercy High School]].<ref name="npt_030420"/>
Sanders attended [[Creighton University]], and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration.<ref name="owh_101619">{{cite news |last1=Tysver |first1=Robynn |title=Creighton grad Symone Sanders brings trademark energy to role as Bernie Sanders' press secretary |url=https://omaha.com/state-and-regional/creighton-grad-symone-sanders-brings-trademark-energy-to-role-as-bernie-sanders-press-secretary/article_1683e000-ed83-51e9-a231-c7b910040f80.html |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=October 16, 2019 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026165205/https://omaha.com/state-and-regional/creighton-grad-symone-sanders-brings-trademark-energy-to-role-as-bernie-sanders-press-secretary/article_1683e000-ed83-51e9-a231-c7b910040f80.html |url-status=live }}</ref> While in college, she interned at a law firm, where she realized she didn't want to work in law.<ref name="Feller"/>
== Career == Sanders worked in the communications office of former Omaha Mayor [[Jim Suttle]], and she was deputy communications director for Democratic gubernatorial candidate [[Chuck Hassebrook]] in 2014.<ref name="owh_101619"/><ref name="npt_030420"/>
In August 2015, Sanders joined the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign as the national press secretary.<ref name="owh_101619"/> In December, ''[[Fusion (Kent State University)|Fusion]]'' listed Sanders as one of 30 women under 30 who would shape the 2016 election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fusion.net/video/256901/women-who-will-change-election|title=Meet the 30 Women Who Will Change the Election|newspaper=Fusion|access-date=October 27, 2016|archive-date=October 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028083528/http://fusion.net/video/256901/women-who-will-change-election/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In June 2016, following the conclusion of the primaries, she quit the Sanders campaign.<ref name="cnn_062716">{{cite news |last1=Landers |first1=Elizabeth |title=Sanders press secretary exits campaign |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/26/politics/sanders-press-secretary-exits-campaign/index.html |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=CNN |date=June 27, 2016 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026231751/https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/26/politics/sanders-press-secretary-exits-campaign/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Later that year, she joined [[CNN]] as an analyst and commentator,<ref name="politico_122219">{{cite news |last1=Strauss |first1=Daniel |title=Why Symone Sanders Went From Bernie to Biden |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2019/12/22/symone-sanders-bernie-to-biden-088264 |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=Politico |date=December 22, 2019 |archive-date=October 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025024318/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2019/12/22/symone-sanders-bernie-to-biden-088264 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was recognized by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/16-young-americans-shaping-the-2016-election-20160502|title=16 Young Americans Shaping the 2016 Election|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 25, 2016|archive-date=October 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025235914/http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/16-young-americans-shaping-the-2016-election-20160502|url-status=live}}</ref> as one of 16 Young Americans Shaping the 2016 Election.
In 2019, Sanders-Townsend served as a Fellow at the [[USC Center for the Political Future]].<ref>{{Cite web|title= Symone Sanders-Townsend |url=https://dornsife.usc.edu/center-for-political-future/fellows-program/former-fellows/symone-sanders-townsend/ |website=USC Center for the Political Future |access-date=27 October 2025}}</ref>
She subsequently joined the presidential campaign of former vice president [[Joe Biden]].<ref name="Ebony"/><ref name="HuffPost"/> In 2020, she published a memoir, ''No, You Shut Up,''<ref name="Leibovich" /> relating her personal experiences of speaking up to effectively fight ideological battles.
On November 29, 2020, Sanders was named chief spokesperson and a senior advisor for Vice President [[Kamala Harris]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 29, 2020 |title=Biden picks top campaign aides in key communications roles |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-communications-idUSKBN2890YK |access-date=November 29, 2020}}</ref> On December 1, 2021, Symone Sanders announced her departure from that role.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Jasmine |last2=Vazquez |first2=Maegan |date=December 2, 2021 |title=Symone Sanders, Harris' chief spokesperson, to leave White House |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/01/politics/symone-sanders-leaving-white-house-harris/index.html |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
Shortly thereafter, [[MSNBC]] announced she would host a weekend program for the network, as well as a program on [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]]'s The Choice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tani |first=Max |title=Symone Sanders lands at MSNBC |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/10/symone-sanders-msnbc-526824 |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=POLITICO |date=January 10, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The new MSNBC program, ''Symone'', premiered on May 7, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ted |date=2022-03-11 |title=Symone Sandes' New MSNBC Show To Debut On May 7 |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/symone-sanders-msnbc-show-1234976407/ |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
As of November 19, 2023 the show was the 24th most popular show on MSNBC and 292nd overall on TV, watched by a total number of 438,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-19 |title=Symone Ratings |url=https://ustvdb.com/networks/msnbc/shows/symone/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=ustvdb.com |language=en}}</ref>
On November 30, 2023, MSNBC announced that Sanders would move to weekend mornings to anchor a new program, ''The Weekend'', along with [[Alicia Menendez]] and [[Michael Steele]]. Her weekend show on MSNBC and on Peacock, ''Symone'', ended on January 7, 2024, with ''The Weekend'' premiering on the same day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ted |date=2023-11-30 |title=MSNBC To Drop Mehdi Hasan's Show, Launch 'The Weekend' As Part Of Overhaul Of Saturday And Sunday Lineup |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/msnbc-weekend-mehdi-hasan-1235644017/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=Deadline}}</ref>
Starting February 24, 2025, Sanders and her other co-hosts on ''The Weekend'' would co-host a newscast on MSNBC's weekday 7pm ET time slot which was previously occupied by [[Joy Reid]]'s ''The ReidOut.''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/tv/msnbc-lineup-rachel-maddow-joy-reid-jen-psaki-symone-sanders-townsend-20250224.html|title=Big changes coming to MSNBC as new boss from Philly takes over|first=Rob|last=Tornoe|publisher=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=February 24, 2025|accessdate=February 25, 2025}}</ref> On March 15, 2025, Sanders-Townsend announced that she was leaving the Democratic Party to become an Independent, citing the party's response to a Republican government funding bill.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Jackson |date=2025-03-17 |title=MSNBC host renounces Democratic Party after Schumer backs GOP funding bill |url=https://wjla.com/news/nation-world/msnbc-host-renounces-democratic-party-after-schumer-backs-gop-funding-bill| access-date=2025-03-17 |website=WJLA |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== Sanders-Townsend's husband is Shawn Townsend,<ref name="Leibovich" /> Washington D.C.'s former "[[Night mayor (municipal title)|Night Mayor]]".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Terris |first1=Ben |title=She's chasing a Washington dream. He's the Night Mayor. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/symone-sanders-kamala-harris-biden-dc-normal/2021/05/07/e1de79fe-a8ef-11eb-8d25-7b30e74923ea_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=12 May 2021}}</ref> The couple wed on Friday, July 15, 2022.<ref>[https://people.com/politics/symone-sanders-marries-shawn-townsend-surprise-dc-wedding/ ''Symone Sanders Weds Shawn Townsend in Surprise D.C. Ceremony''] ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' Retrieved August 27, 2022</ref> They live in Washington, D.C.<ref name="Linskey2">{{cite news |last1=Linskey |first1=Annie |title=Symone Sanders, Biden's top African American aide, faces pressure from all sides |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/symone-sanders-bidens-top-african-american-aide-faces-pressure-from-all-sides/2020/07/03/3bebaa6e-b49c-11ea-aca5-ebb63d27e1ff_story.html |access-date=November 30, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=July 3, 2020 |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130162524/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/symone-sanders-bidens-top-african-american-aide-faces-pressure-from-all-sides/2020/07/03/3bebaa6e-b49c-11ea-aca5-ebb63d27e1ff_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Works== * ''No, You Shut Up: Speaking Truth to Power and Reclaiming America''. New York: Harper (2020). {{ISBN|0062942689}}
==References== {{Reflist}} * {{cite web |title=Symone Sanders Net Worth 2026: MSNBC Salary, Income, Assets & Career |url=https://digave.co.uk/symone-sanders-net-worth/ |website=Digave |date=May 2, 2026 |access-date=May 2, 2026}}
==External links== {{commons category|Symone D. Sanders}} * {{Official website}} * {{C-SPAN|98225}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanders, Symone D.}} [[Category:1989 births]] [[Category:African-American people in Nebraska politics]] [[Category:American political consultants]] [[Category:Women political consultants]] [[Category:American political women]] [[Category:21st-century African-American women politicians]] [[Category:21st-century American women politicians]] [[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]] [[Category:Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign]] [[Category:Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign]] [[Category:CNN people]] [[Category:Creighton University alumni]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Nebraska Democrats]] [[Category:People associated with the 2016 United States presidential election]] [[Category:People associated with the 2020 United States presidential election]] [[Category:Political spokespersons]] [[Category:Writers from Omaha, Nebraska]] [[Category:Political commentators]] [[Category:Biden administration personnel]] [[Category:Television personalities from Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:American political writers]] [[Category:African-American women writers]]