The results are in—not for the 2024 presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, but for how the internet feels about NBC News and MSNBC’s national political correspondent, Steve Kornacki.
Over the years, Kornacki has captured the hearts of many, earning affectionate titles like “map daddy,” “chartthrob,” and even “the internet’s boyfriend” for his relentless election coverage using his iconic “Big Board” and signature khakis.
Kornacki’s appeal transcended politics when he was featured in People’s 2020 Sexiest Man Alive issue, a recognition he humbly downplayed during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, joking, “You want to talk about where there might be vote fraud and where there might be tabulation errors—whoever added that up for that People magazine thing, I don’t know how I got on that list. I tell people, ‘They got the alive part right.’”
Stars like Chrissy Teigen and Leslie Jones have joined the chorus of fans celebrating Kornacki. Jones, a former Saturday Night Live cast member, exclaimed on Today, “Steve Kornacki in them khakis! Wooooooo! OK, first of all, Steve Kornacki is the sexiest nerd on TV.”
Kornacki’s influence even extends to fashion, with Gap reporting a significant boost in khaki sales during the 2020 election.
A spokesperson for the brand revealed to the Los Angeles Times that they saw a 90% increase in online traffic and sales of their Straight Fit Palomino Brown khakis within a day of Kornacki donning them for his coverage.
When asked about his own khaki collection, Kornacki admitted, “Certainly single digits,” estimating he owns about five pairs.
His decision-making process for selecting which pair to wear? “Usually it’s whatever’s clean.”
He appreciates that viewers have come to expect his signature look, which typically includes a white button-down shirt and a striped tie.
“I like that,” he remarked, “If this means I’ve gotten myself off the hook for the rest of my life from really having to get dressed up, I’ll take that.”
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