Viewers who tuned in to MSNBC’s election coverage Tuesday wasted no time in mourning the departure of Steve Kornacki ― though most seemed to warm to the journalist’s replacement by the night’s end.
In April, it was announced Kornacki ― whose poll-tracking prowess and lovably staid wardrobe made him an unlikely TV icon in recent years ― had signed with NBC as the network prepared to separate from MSNBC.
Stepping into Kornacki’s usual role on Election Day was Ali Velshi, a Canadian journalist who has been with MSNBC ― set to rebrand as MS Now later this month ― for about nine years.
Though some still expressed their sadness at Kornacki’s absence, the consensus among most who tuned in was refreshingly positive.
“Election nights with Steve Kornacki are big khakis to fill, but Ali Velshi is doing a great job!” one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Added another: “Oh, ali velshi on the big board ??!!! I can get behind that!”
The most resounding praise, however, came from an X user who coined a nickname for Velshi’s attire that rivaled Kornacki’s signature khaki trousers.
“Today, [Velshi] introduced the....ALI VESTi as we have retired the Kornacki Khakis,” she wrote.
In an interview with People published Wednesday, Velshi said the comments from viewers were “a delightful bonus” while emphasizing the “practical” aspect of wearing a vest while on-air.
“I’ve actually liked vests for years, but they were typically suit vests worn under a jacket,” he said. “I started folding them into my on-air rotation more recently.”
He went on to note: “Part of it is practical — studios run cool and a vest keeps me warm without a bulky jacket. Mostly, though, it’s a clean, tailored look that lets me move at the board without bunching.”
Viewers who miss Kornacki can still catch him on the air, probing the numbers in polls, elections and sports, albeit solely on NBC.
Though taking over for a reporter who made People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” list and was dubbed the “crown jewel” of MSNBC’s election coverage is no easy task, Velshi said, “It was an honor.”
“Steve set a very high bar, and stepping to the wall on election night is equal parts adrenaline and discipline — my job is to make a seemingly chaotic stream of numbers feel coherent and useful in real time,” he told People. “I was proud of our team and grateful for how quickly viewers embraced my part of the coverage.”
Correction: A previous version of this article misstated Ali Velshi’s background. He was raised in Canada but born in Kenya.