Donna Lease Brazile is a prominent American political strategist, campaign manager, and political analyst who has shaped Democratic politics for over four decades. She made history as the first African-American woman to manage a major party presidential campaign when she led Al Gore’s 2000 campaign. Brazile has served twice as acting Chair of the Democratic National Committee and is currently an ABC News contributor, author, and adjunct professor at Georgetown University.
Donna Brazile Wikipedia
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Donna Lease Brazile |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | December 15, 1959 |
| Age | 65 years old (as of December 2025) |
| Place of birth | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
| Current residence | Washington, D.C., USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Sexual orientation | Private |
| Height | 5 feet 2 inches (160 cm) |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Marital status | Single |
| Alma mater | Louisiana State University |
| Profession | Political strategist, author, professor, commentator |
| Net worth | $3 million (estimated) |
Who is Donna Brazile?
Donna Brazile is a trailblazing political strategist who has dedicated her life to progressive politics and Democratic campaigns. She became interested in politics at the young age of nine when a local candidate promised to build a playground in her neighborhood. This early experience sparked a lifelong passion for political activism and community engagement.
Throughout her career, Brazile has worked on numerous presidential campaigns and held key positions in the Democratic Party. She gained national recognition for her groundbreaking role as campaign manager for Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign. Brazile has also served as a political commentator on major networks including CNN, Fox News, and ABC News.
How old is Donna Brazile? Age and birthday
Donna Brazile is 65 years old as of December 2025. She was born on December 15, 1959, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius, which is often associated with traits like optimism, honesty, and enthusiasm.
Brazile grew up in a large family as the third of nine children. Her parents, Jean Marie Brown and Lionel Joseph Brazile Sr., raised their children in New Orleans during a time of significant social and political change in America.
What is Donna Brazile’s net worth?
As of 2025, Donna Brazile’s net worth is estimated at $3 million. She has built her wealth through multiple income streams over her extensive career in politics and media.
Brazile earns income from several sources including her role as an ABC News contributor, speaking engagements, book royalties, and teaching positions. Her speaking fees typically range from $20,000 to $50,000 per event, depending on the venue and format. She has commanded substantial fees for her appearances at universities, corporate events, and political conferences across the United States.
Her income also comes from her position as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, where she has taught since 2002. Additionally, Brazile has authored several bestselling books, including “Cooking with Grease” (2004), “Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House” (2017), and “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics” (2018), which won the 2019 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work.
Career
Early political involvement
Donna Brazile’s political career began at age 17 when she volunteered for Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale’s 1976 presidential campaign. While attending Louisiana State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial psychology in 1981, she continued her political activism by working on Carter’s 1980 re-election campaign.
After graduation, Brazile moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked for several advocacy groups. She played an instrumental role in the successful campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a federal holiday, demonstrating her commitment to civil rights and social justice from the start of her career.
Presidential campaigns
Brazile worked on multiple Democratic presidential campaigns throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She joined Jesse Jackson’s 1984 campaign, followed by Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro’s campaign that same year. In 1988, she served as deputy field director for Dick Gephardt’s primary campaign and later joined Michael Dukakis’s general election campaign.
Her career reached new heights in 1999 when she was appointed deputy campaign manager for Al Gore’s presidential campaign. She was later promoted to campaign manager, becoming the first African-American woman to manage a major party presidential campaign. This historic achievement solidified her reputation as one of the most influential political strategists in America.
Democratic National Committee leadership
Brazile served as acting Chair of the Democratic National Committee on two separate occasions. In spring 2011, she led the DNC during the transition between Tim Kaine and Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She assumed the role again in July 2016 after Wasserman Schultz resigned at the start of the Democratic National Convention.
During her tenure as DNC chair in 2016, Brazile faced controversy when WikiLeaks revealed that she had shared debate questions with Hillary Clinton’s campaign while working as a CNN commentator. CNN severed ties with Brazile in October 2016. She later admitted the mistake in a 2017 essay for Time magazine, stating it was an error she would forever regret.
Media career
Brazile has enjoyed a successful career as a political commentator and analyst. She worked as a contributor for CNN until 2016, joined Fox News as a contributor in March 2019, and resigned from Fox News in May 2021. She currently serves as a contributor for ABC News, providing political analysis and commentary on various programs.
Her media presence has made her a recognizable figure in American political discourse. She has appeared on numerous television shows and has been a sought-after voice during election coverage and political events.
Academic career
Since 2002, Brazile has served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, where she teaches courses in Women and Gender Studies. She has also lectured at the University of Maryland, College Park, and served as a fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics. Throughout her academic career, she has delivered lectures at over 200 colleges and universities across the United States.
Is Donna Brazile married? Relationship status
Donna Brazile is not married and does not have children. She has maintained a highly private personal life throughout her decades in the public eye. In a 1999 New York Times Magazine article, she was described as “highly protective of her privacy” and “openly ambiguous” about her sexual orientation.
Brazile has focused her life on her career, family, and advocacy work. She maintains close relationships with her eight siblings and their families, including 15 nieces and nephews. She has written about the importance of family in her life and the role her parents played in shaping her values and commitment to public service.
Donna Brazile’s books and publications
Major publications
Brazile is a New York Times bestselling author who has published several influential books. Her first memoir, “Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics” (2004), provides a charming autobiography about her journey from a poor Black girl in New Orleans to managing a presidential campaign.
Her most controversial book, “Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House” (2017), offers a behind-the-scenes look at the 2016 presidential election. In the book, she disclosed an agreement between Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the DNC that gave Clinton significant control over party operations before she became the nominee.
In 2018, Brazile co-authored “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics” with Yolanda Caraway, Leah Daughtry, and Minyon Moore. This book won the 2019 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in the nonfiction category.
Columns and articles
Throughout her career, Brazile has been a contributing writer for Ms. Magazine and a syndicated columnist for various publications including Roll Call. She has written extensively on topics including voter registration, women in politics, civil rights, and Democratic Party strategy.
Fast facts about Donna Brazile
- Historic achievement: Donna Brazile became the first African-American woman to manage a major party presidential campaign when she led Al Gore’s 2000 campaign.
- Early activism: She became interested in politics at age nine when a local candidate promised to build a playground in her neighborhood, demonstrating her early commitment to community advocacy.
- Large family: Brazile is the third of nine children and has 15 nieces and nephews, maintaining close family ties despite her demanding career.
- Education: She earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial psychology from Louisiana State University in 1981 and later became a fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics.
- Religious background: Brazile is Catholic and wanted to become a priest as a child until her mother explained that girls could not be ordained in the Catholic Church.
- Television appearances: She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has appeared as herself in episodes of “The Good Wife,” “House of Cards,” and the film “Army of the Dead.”
- Hurricane Katrina service: After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, she served on the board of directors of the Louisiana Recovery Authority from 2005 to 2009.
- Honorary recognition: On July 9, 2025, Brazile became an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., joining other distinguished inductees including Queen Latifah and Danielle Brooks.
- Teaching legacy: She has been teaching at Georgetown University since 2002, sharing her extensive political expertise with students for over two decades.
- Award-winning author: Her book “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics” won the 2019 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction.
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Wrapping up
Donna Brazile remains one of the most influential political strategists in American history. Her groundbreaking career, which includes managing a presidential campaign, leading the Democratic National Committee, and shaping political discourse through media and academia, continues to inspire future generations of political activists. With an estimated net worth of $3 million and ongoing work as an ABC News contributor and Georgetown University professor, Brazile continues to play a vital role in American political life in 2025.
References
- “Donna Brazile.” Wikipedia.
- “Donna Brazile Net Worth.” Celebrity Net Worth.
- “Donna Brazile’s Biography.” The HistoryMakers.
- “Donna Brazile – Institute of Politics and Public Service.” Georgetown University.
- “Political Strategist Donna Brazile Inducted as Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta.” Watch The Yard.
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