Dana Bash, CNN’s chief congressional correspondent, has been promoted to chief political correspondent at the network, filling a void left by Candy Crowley departure late last year.
According to a staff memo from CNN Washington Bureau Chief Sam Feist and Deputy Bureau Chief Virginia Moseley, Bash will lead the network’s coverage of the 2016 GOP race and contribute in CNN’s upcoming Republican debate in September.
Although Bash succeeds Crowley as the network’s chief political correspondent, she does not inherit Crowley’s Sunday morning public affairs show, “State of the Union,” which went to Chief Washington Correspondent Jake Tapper earlier this year.
The staffing change is the latest personnel shuffle at a major news organization as they gear up to cover the 2016 presidential race. As the still-distant electoral contest draws nearer, many outlets have already begun the recurring tradition of swapping and promoting political reporting talent.
In the memo, Feist and Moseley praised Bash’s extensive career with the network.
Dana started as a Library Assistant here in the DC bureau in 1993. She became an associate producer and then producer of the weekend shows Evans & Novak and Late Edition. She moved to newsgathering as an assignment editor and then a Capitol Hill Producer. Leveraging the sources she developed on the Hill, Dana became a Congressional Correspondent, a White House Correspondent, and later our Chief Congressional Correspondent.
Although Bash and talk show host Hugh Hewitt will question the GOP presidential contenders at the Sept. 16 debate, Tapper is still scheduled to be its moderator.
Here’s the full memo:
This morning, Jeff announced that our friend and colleague Dana Bash has been named CNN’s Chief Political Correspondent, serving as the network’s lead correspondent covering the Republican field of 2016 presidential hopefuls, our lead correspondent covering Capitol Hill, and as a prominent player in CNN’s election night coverage. Today we are also announcing that Dana will be participating in the questioning of Republican candidates at CNN’s Reagan Library debate next month.
Of all off the announcements we have made over the years, we cannot think of one that gives us greater pride to share.Dana is one of the best examples of a true CNN success story. Her career is an extraordinary example of how hard work and great news instincts can take you almost anywhere in journalism.
Dana started as a Library Assistant here in the DC bureau in 1993. She became an associate producer and then producer of the weekend shows Evans & Novak and Late Edition. She moved to newsgathering as an assignment editor and then a Capitol Hill Producer. Leveraging the sources she developed on the Hill, Dana became a Congressional Correspondent, a White House Correspondent, and later our Chief Congressional Correspondent.
And you have all seen the remarkable work Dana has done on the campaign trail starting in 2008 and continuing into the 2016 campaign. From her role as our lead correspondent on the McCain campaign to her current role leading CNN’s coverage of the largest field of candidates to ever run for president, Dana’s reporting has given our viewers a front row seat to history.
Over the last 20 years, there are few people at CNN who have worked harder or done more for this news organization than Dana Bash. She is tireless, fearless, and 100 percent committed to outstanding journalism. But more important, she is one of our greatest colleagues – beloved by everyone from the field crews to the show producers.
And we can think of no person better qualified to be CNN’s Chief Political Correspondent.
Please join us in congratulating Dana on this important assignment.
