Nancy Cordes Biography
Nancy Cordes is the chief White House correspondent for CBS News, based in Washington, D.C. She’s a familiar face across the network’s various programs and platforms, bringing viewers the latest updates from the heart of the nation’s capital.
Before stepping into her current role, Cordes made her mark as CBS News’ chief congressional correspondent. She was right there on Capitol Hill during some of the most significant events in recent history, including the 2021 attack on the United States Capitol and the extraordinary second impeachment of Donald Trump. Over her impressive 12-year tenure covering Congress, she has delved into crucial national topics like government shutdowns, COVID-19 relief talks, Supreme Court confirmations, investigations into Russian election meddling, tax reform, debates over the Affordable Care Act, and discussions surrounding immigration and gun control.
Cordes has also been a key player in CBS News’ election coverage since 2008. During the 2020 election, she was part of the in-studio anchor team, focusing on the House and Senate races. Back in 2016, she took the lead as the correspondent covering Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and even co-hosted a primary debate in Iowa. She also reported on Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012.
She joined CBS News in 2007 as a transportation and consumer safety correspondent. Before that, she was a correspondent for ABC News in New York from 2005 to 2007, where she covered major events like Hurricane Katrina, the Iraq War, and the 2004 presidential election. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Washington-based correspondent for NewsOne, ABC’s affiliate news service, and reported for WJLA-TV from 1999 to 2003. While at WJLA-TV, she tackled significant stories, including the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon, the 2000 presidential race, the D.C. sniper attacks, and peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia.
Cordes kicked off her journalism journey as a reporter for KHNL-TV from 1995 to 1997, laying the groundwork for her ascent as one of the most respected political correspondents in American broadcast news.
Age
Nancy Cordes was born on August 10, 1974, in Los Angeles, California. That makes her 51 years old as of 2026, and she proudly holds American citizenship.
Education
Nancy Cordes graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. Cordes earns a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
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Husband
Cordes married Harald Cordes in 2006. Together, they have two children, a son, and a Daughter. She now lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, daughter, and son.
Nancy Cordes Career
Nancy Cordes serves as CBS News chief White House correspondent, stationed in Washington, D.C. Previously, she held the position of CBS News chief Congressional correspondent.
During her tenure, Cordes played a pivotal role in reporting on significant events. She provided coverage from Capitol Hill during the unsettling incident when rioters breached the U.S. Capitol in January 2021. Additionally, she reported on the historic moment when Donald Trump became the first American president to be impeached twice.
Over a span of 12 years dedicated to covering Congress, Cordes extensively reported on a range of crucial topics. Her coverage included government shutdowns, negotiations concerning COVID-19 relief legislation, confirmations of five Supreme Court justices, the congressional inquiry into Russian election interference, the enactment of the 2017 tax cut bill, debates surrounding President Obama’s healthcare law, the emergence of the Tea Party movement, and ongoing discussions about immigration reform and gun control, among numerous other policy matters.
Cordes has played a significant role in CBS News’ election coverage since 2008. On Election Night 2020, she was part of the in-studio anchor team, leading the coverage of House and Senate races. In 2016, she took the lead in covering Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign for CBS News and even co-hosted a primary debate in Iowa. Her coverage also extended to President Obama’s reelection campaign in 2012.
In 2007, Cordes became a part of the CBS News team, initially taking on the role of transportation and consumer safety correspondent. Prior to this, she served as an ABC News correspondent headquartered in New York from 2005 to 2007. During her time at ABC News, she contributed to broadcasts across the network and covered significant news events such as Hurricane Katrina, the Iraq War, and the 2004 election.
Before her tenure at ABC News, Cordes held the position of a Washington-based correspondent for NewsOne, the affiliate news service of ABC News, spanning from 2003 to 2004. Preceding her involvement with ABC News, she worked as a reporter at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C. from 1999 to 2003. While at WJLA-TV, Cordes reported on noteworthy occurrences including the September 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon, the 2000 presidential race, the sniper attacks in the Washington, D.C. area, and peacekeeping endeavors in Bosnia.
Her journey in journalism commenced as a reporter at KHNL-TV in Honolulu, where she operated from 1995 to 1997.
Nancy Cordes Salary
Cordes receives an annual salary ranging from $142,544 – $143,769. However, details about the exact amount of salary he earns are currently not available.
Nancy Cordes Net Worth
Nancy Cordes, a correspondent now working as a CBS News chief White House correspondent has an estimated net worth of $2 Million.