What Election Day Is Really Like for NBC News' Steve Kornacki

Steve Kornacki Exits MSNBC: Find Out Where He—and His Khakis—Are Moving ToSteve Kornacki has election night all mapped out. The NBC News chief data analyst returned to cover the 2026 midterm elections on Nov. 3, appearing on the network's 13-hour marathon in what he described as “livestream history.” “We’ll go nonstop through the night,” Kornacki wrote on X. “Truly hope you’ll come along for the ride.” While the 47-year-old opted not to wear his signature khakis for this year's shift—opting for a pair of dark trousers instead—he likely will need plenty of caffeine to sustain him during his all-nighter with the “Big Board.” His drink of choice? “Lots of Diet Coke,” he told GQ in 2020. “I'll drink a ton of Diet Coke. I think that's the main thing. Once we start getting election results, I feed off the energy. There's constant stimulus.” Despite being a self-proclaimed numbers guy, Kornacki often loses count of how many Diet Cokes he drinks throughout his newscasts. As he put it, “It’s just sort of a constant supply.”“On a normal day, I'll have a couple,” Kornacki explained. “But on election night, I just keep it nearby and I’m just kind of regularly using it.” So much so, the soda has become his sole source of sustenance during his around-the-clock coverage. “I do feel eating slows me down,” he shared. “It will make me sleepy. That’s the thing I have found, is that the fatigue will catch up to me when I start eating.” That’s why also why the political correspondent doesn’t eat at all on election night.Shannon Finney/NBC via Getty Images“I'll try to have something during the day. Maybe it's a bagel or something,” Kornacki continued. “I haven't had breakfast in 28 or 29 years.” In fact, Kornacki only added another beverage to his rider for this year's shift: Dunkin' coffee. Still, the journalist affectionately known to fans as "Map Daddy" doesn't believe he'll need it all too much. "Once you start doing it," he said of election coverage in an Axios interview published Nov. 3, "the adrenaline of new results, new material, new information constantly coming in, it carries you." To see celebrities getting their vote on this election, keep reading...Kelsea Ballerini/InstagramKelsea BalleriniThe country singer called dibs on making sure everyone would be out voting.Reese Witherspoon/InstagramReese WitherspoonTracy Flick herself encouraged her followers to vote as only the star of Election could.Demi Lovato/InstagramDemi LovatoThe "Confident" singer was cool for the voting.Tatyana Ali/InstagramTatyana AliThe Dancing With the Stars contestant joked she was "working on my arm extension" as she took a pause in her day to vote.Kat Dennings/InstagramKat DenningsThe 2 Broke Girls alum was rich in voting information.Mariska Hargitay/InstagramPeter Hermann & Mariska HargitayThe Law & Order: SVU star made sure she and her husband hit the "dun dun" at their polling place.Chris Colfer/XChris ColferThe Glee alum was ready to "VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!"Victoria Monet/XVictoria MonetThe "See You In My Dreams" singer had an important question for her followers: "But did you vote though?"Holly Madison/XHolly MadisonThe reality star popped over from next door to cast her vote.Patton Oswalt/XPatton OswaltThe Ratatouille star was whipping up some votes this year.Paula Abdul/XPaula AbdulStraight up now, the American Idol alum wanted to remind everyone "that YOUR voice matters!"Olivia Rodrigo/InstagramOlivia RodrigoThe Grammy winner had certain expectations that her fans would go and vote.Lea Thompson/XLea ThompsonThe Back to the Future star was thrilled about taking part in the democratic process.Tyler Perry/XTyler PerryThe filmmaker was ready to join the house of voting.Conan O'Brien/XConan O'BrienThe comedian kept his eye on the votes this year.Brooke Shields/XBrooke Shields"I voted absentee this year because I’m on set, so I didn’t get a sticker," the Mother of the Bride star admitted, "but the message still stands from 2024!! GET OUT & VOTE!"Jimmy Fallon/XJimmy FallonThe Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon star joked that he was "thanked, shushed and stickered in less than 5 minutes" while voting at his local library. Cardi B/XCardi BThe "I Like It" singer knew how her fans could please her: by getting out to vote.Carrie Coon/XTracy Letts & Carrie CoonThe playwright and Gilded Age star proved they were golden as they cast their vote.Kesha/XKeshaThe "Tik Tok" singer was on the clock as she told her followers to "get your a$$ out there and vote today if you haven't already!!!"For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App