Standing in front of a gigantic map isn’t a traditional path to fame. But in 2020, during the presidential face-off between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, Steve Kornacki became America’s sweetheart for his enthusiastic delivery of state-by-state election results. The NBC data analyst gracefully guided teeth-grinding, fist-clenching viewers through Biden’s eventual victory, and the rest is history: That same year, Kornacki was named one of People’s sexiest men alive; the internet became obsessed with his khaki pants; and he earned the nicknames “chartthrob” and “map daddy.”
\n\nKornacki further established himself as the king of election season with the “Kornacki Cam” during 2026 midterm primary election nights, when his nonstop behind-the-scenes livestreams amassed 42 million views. Now that midterm election day is upon us, Kornacki is acutely aware of how many viewers have come to rely on him. “I get very anxious about being prepared for election night,” he says, “and then thinking of all the things that I might not be prepared for, and then just taking the phone out and trying to get prepared.”
\n\nFor someone who spends a lot of time logged on, Kornacki doesn’t exactly have the habits of someone who is chronically online. He seems to…
Original source: https://www.wired.com/