Steve Kornacki is one of the most popular faces on American TV. He’s known for explaining voting results and numbers in a way that everyone can understand. For many years, he worked for the news channel MSNBC. But now, something big has changed — Steve Kornacki is leaving MSNBC, and people are wondering why.
Let’s look at what really happened and what’s next for him.
Who Is Steve Kornacki?
Steve Kornacki is a journalist who loves numbers. He helps people understand voting, elections, and data. Steve became super famous during the 2020 presidential election. Millions of people watched him stand in front of a big screen, pointing at maps and explaining which states were voting for which candidate.
He was full of energy, talking fast, moving around, and showing his excitement. He always wore his favorite khaki pants, and fans loved that too!
Soon, people all over America started calling him “the election guy.” Even celebrities watched him. The magazine People named him one of the “Sexiest Men Alive” because of how focused and passionate he was — something Steve found funny and surprising.
Steve joined MSNBC back in 2012 and quickly became known as the network’s “Election Oracle.” That means he was so good at understanding voting data that people felt he could almost predict what might happen next.
What’s Happening at MSNBC?
The company that owns MSNBC is called Comcast. Comcast also owns other TV channels, including NBC News.
But in 2025, Comcast made a big business decision. They decided to separate MSNBC from NBC News. Think of it like two kids who used to share the same toys but now want to play on their own.
Comcast created a new company called Versant. This new company will include cable channels like MSNBC, CNBC, and Bravo. Starting in October 2025, MSNBC will move to Versant and become independent — that means it will no longer share staff or resources with NBC News.
Meanwhile, NBC News will stay under a different company called NBCUniversal. So from now on, MSNBC and NBC News will be two different organizations with their own teams, reporters, and studios.
Why Did Steve Kornacki Leave MSNBC?
When this split happened, Steve had to make a big choice. Would he go with MSNBC to the new company Versant, or would he stay with NBC News?
Steve decided to stay with NBC News. He signed a new contract to continue working there as a chief data analyst.
That means he will still appear on TV, explaining voting numbers and breaking down election results — but now he’ll do it on NBC News programs, not MSNBC.
Steve said he is excited about the change because it gives him more freedom to explore other projects. His new deal lets him work not just on politics, but also on things he loves — like sports and game shows!
In fact, back in 2022, he even made a practice video for a game show, which made people wonder if he might host one someday. His new job gives him more time and space to try new ideas while still doing what he loves — explaining numbers and data.
NBC News vs. MSNBC: What’s the Difference?
Some people think NBC News and MSNBC are the same, but they’re actually different.
- NBC News is the main news organization — it’s like the big headquarters that runs major programs such as Today, Meet the Press, and NBC Nightly News.
- MSNBC is a cable news channel that focuses more on opinion-based shows and political discussions.
For many years, both shared the same reporters and studios. But now, after the split, each will run separately.
That means Steve had to pick one — and he chose NBC News, where he will have more chances to grow and do new things.
What Will Steve Kornacki Do Now?
Steve will now appear on NBC News programs like Meet the Press, Today, NBC Nightly News, and NBC News Now (which streams online).
He’ll still cover elections and voting results, but that’s not all. Steve will also talk about sports, the Olympics, NFL games, and even horse racing — things he has always loved.
On Election Night 2025, Steve worked for NBC News for the first time since 2014. Fans were thrilled to see him back on a big national stage. He wore his signature khaki pants, used his touch screen, and brought his usual excitement. Viewers said it felt like seeing an old friend again.
Steve said he’s very happy about his new job and that he’s ready to work hard:
“I’ll stay up all night if I have to,” he said, “because helping people understand the numbers is what I love most.”
What Happens to MSNBC Now?
Now that Steve is gone, MSNBC had to find someone new to take over his role. They chose Ali Velshi, another smart and experienced journalist who also loves analyzing data.
Ali will now handle election numbers and explain results on MSNBC.
MSNBC is also going through more big changes. The channel is getting a new name — “MS NOW.”
It stands for “My Source News Opinion and the World.”
The channel will also drop the NBC peacock logo since it will no longer be part of NBC News. This marks a whole new beginning for MSNBC, with a fresh design, new shows, and a different style.
Why Do Companies Split Apart?
Big companies sometimes decide to split for business reasons.
Sometimes, they want to focus on different goals. Sometimes, they think being independent will help them grow faster.
In this case, Comcast wanted MSNBC to stand on its own and make its own decisions. It can now choose which reporters to hire, what shows to make, and what kind of stories to tell — without needing approval from NBC News.
Meanwhile, NBC News can also focus on its own big projects and events.
So even though it’s a big change, it might help both groups do even better in the future.
The Future for Steve Kornacki
Steve Kornacki isn’t disappearing — he’s just moving to a new home on NBC News.
He’ll still cover elections, analyze numbers, and get excited on live TV — just like always. Fans who loved watching him on MSNBC can still see him on NBC Nightly News or Meet the Press.
And who knows? Maybe one day, Steve will even host his own game show!
He said he feels lucky and excited to keep doing what he loves most — helping people understand big events through numbers.
The Bottom Line
Steve Kornacki is leaving MSNBC because MSNBC is splitting from NBC News. The big company Comcast decided to make MSNBC part of a new group called Versant. Steve chose to stay with NBC News instead of moving to Versant because it gives him more opportunities and freedom.
Now, he’s the Chief Data Analyst for NBC News, where he’ll keep analyzing numbers, explaining elections, and maybe even explore new projects.
Even though fans will miss seeing him on MSNBC, they can still watch him on NBC News — full of energy, khaki pants, and excitement for data, just like always!
