POLITICO’s Eugene Daniels inducted as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association

Eugene Daniels

POLITICO White House Correspondent and Playbook Co-Author Eugene Daniels today has been inducted as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA). He will serve in this capacity through the 2024-2025 term.

Daniels’ rise to this leadership position is historic in nature as he will be the first openly gay person of color and only the second Black person to serve as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association. This milestone is a tremendous honor for Daniels and POLITICO, as he is the first WHCA president for the publication. His term will also be significant as the WHCA marks its 110th anniversary and coincide with the swearing in of a president in January, as he will assume the position in the midst of a presidential election.

“This is an incredibly exciting and momentous occasion for Eugene, and for all of us at POLITICO,” said Goli Sheikholeslami, chief executive officer of POLITICO Media Group. “His incredible journey as a journalist, his reporting, and respect of his colleagues are a testament to both his work and the progress we continue to strive for in journalism. We are proud of the impact he has made and that he will make in this leadership role in upholding the democratic ideal of a free press.”

The White House Correspondents’ Association exists to promote excellence in journalism as well as journalism education, and to ensure robust news coverage of the president and presidency. The association comprises hundreds of members from the worlds of print, television, radio and online journalism.

“Eugene’s POLITICO colleagues are proud that he is taking this important leadership position within the profession,” said John Harris, global editor-in-chief of POLITICO. “The public largely knows the WHCA through its annual dinner and its work supporting rising young journalists through scholarships. Important work, however, takes place behind the scenes — working with White House officials on behalf of transparency and access. Eugene’s idealism and good judgment will make him a valuable voice on behalf of news organizations and the public interest.”

Since joining POLITICO in 2018, Daniels’ success has been apparent in the media industry, regularly breaking both news and barriers. He’s reported on midterms elections, the Democratic presidential primary in 2020, and general election through print, video journalism and podcasts.

In his role as co-author of POLITICO’s successful Playbook franchise and as a White House correspondent, Daniels has leveraged POLITICO's many platforms. During the country’s reckoning with race in 2020, he moderated POLITICO’s Confronting Inequality Town Hall series that examined how inequities in policing, housing, healthcare, education and employment permeate the country’s institutions. He is also a senior MSNBC political analyst where he appears often providing insights, analysis and reporting on the biggest stories in Washington, and more broadly, the United States.

About POLITICO:

POLITICO is the global authority on the intersection of politics, policy and power. It is the most robust news operation and information service in the world specializing in politics and policy, which informs the most influential audience in the world with insight, edge and authority. Founded in 2007, POLITICO has grown to a team of more than 1,100 across North America and Europe. In October 2021, POLITICO was acquired by, and is subsidiary of, Axel Springer SE.