Akayla Gardner is an American political journalist and White House correspondent based in Washington, D.C. She is best known for her reporting on the White House, presidential campaigns, national politics, policy, and the economy. As of 2026, she works as a White House correspondent for MS NOW after building a strong reputation at Bloomberg News. Her reporting has taken her across the United States and to several countries, where she has covered presidents, vice presidents, global summits, elections, and major political events.
Gardner has become part of a new generation of political reporters who combine traditional wire-service reporting with television, digital platforms, and social media storytelling. Her work has appeared through major outlets and has reached readers through Bloomberg News, Bloomberg Businessweek, MSNBC/MS NOW, and syndicated publications.
| Net Worth: | – |
|---|---|
| Real Name: | Akayla Garnder |
| Birth Date: | April 29, 1998-99 |
| Age (as of 2026): | 26 Years |
| Birth Place: | Washington, D.C, USA |
| Height: | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Parents: | – |
| Husband/Boyfriend: | – |
Early Life
Akayla Gardner is a Maryland native who celebrates her birthday on the 29th of April every year because she is believed to be in her late 20s, likely around 26 to 28 years old as of 2026. Gardner grew up close to Washington, D.C., which later became the center of her professional life. Her background gave her early exposure to the national issues, political debates, and civic conversations that shape the capital region. That environment likely helped build her interest in politics, public affairs, and storytelling.
Family & Education
Akayla Gardner is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants. She has spoken with pride about her background and the values that shaped her personal and professional identity. Her family story adds an important layer to her journalism career, especially as she has reported on race, democracy, elections, representation, and public policy.
There is limited public information about her parents’ names, siblings, or private family life. Gardner appears to keep those details away from the public spotlight. This privacy is common among political reporters, especially those covering high-profile government figures and national institutions.
Education
Akayla Gardner attended The Ohio State University, where she studied journalism and built the foundation for her media career. During her time at Ohio State, she became deeply involved in student journalism and campus media.
She worked with The Lantern and Lantern TV, where she served in several roles, including senior reporter, special projects director, and news director. Her student reporting covered politics, immigration, race, mental health, and other public-interest topics. These early assignments helped her develop the reporting range that later defined her professional career.
Gardner also helped establish the National Association of Black Journalists chapter at Ohio State. She served as a founding member and president of the chapter, helping build a space for young Black journalists on campus. During college, she received several awards and scholarships, including recognition from a regional National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences chapter for an investigative documentary.
Career
Akayla Gardner’s professional journalism career gained momentum at Bloomberg News. She first worked with Bloomberg as an equality and Bloomberg Live intern. During that internship, she covered the New York City mayoral race, reported on race and gender, and produced social media videos.
Her internship led to a full-time role at Bloomberg. She later moved to Washington, D.C., where she became a White House correspondent. At Bloomberg, Gardner covered the Biden and Trump administrations, national policy, gun violence, abortion, police reform, voting trends, and economic issues.
Akayla Gardner also became the first author of Bloomberg’s weekly newsletter, “Washington Edition: Inside the White House.” The newsletter gave readers a closer look at the administration, political strategy, and major decisions coming from Washington.
Gardner covered the historic 2024 U.S. presidential election in depth. She traveled to every battleground state and reported on campaign strategy, voter demographics, and President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race. She also co-authored a Bloomberg Businessweek cover story about Kamala Harris’ 107-day presidential campaign.
Her reporting has taken her beyond the United States. She traveled with President Biden to India for the G-20 summit and to the United Kingdom for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Akayla Gardner also traveled with Vice President Kamala Harris to Switzerland for the Ukraine peace summit, the United Arab Emirates for COP28, and Africa for a multi-country tour.
In 2024, Gardner was named a National Press Foundation Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellow. The fellowship recognizes rising journalists covering major institutions in Washington, including the White House, Congress, the courts, and federal agencies.
In 2025, Gardner joined MSNBC, later identified publicly with MS NOW, as part of its Washington newsgathering team. She continued covering the White House and national politics for television, digital, and social audiences.
Personal Life
Akayla Gardner has not publicly shared details about a husband, partner, or children. No reliable public source confirms her relationship status. For that reason, any claim about her romantic life should be avoided unless Gardner confirms it herself.
Her publicly known personal identity centers on her Maryland roots, Jamaican family background, and commitment to journalism. She often presents herself as a campaign reporter and political journalist who follows presidents and presidential hopefuls across the country.
Social Media
Akayla Gardner is active on social media, where she shares professional updates, reporting clips, behind-the-scenes moments, and career milestones. Her Instagram account, @gardner.akayla, describes her as someone “chasing presidents & could-be presidents.” Her X account, @gardnerakayla, also identifies her as a White House reporter and former Bloomberg journalist.
She uses her online platforms mainly for journalism, public appearances, and reporting updates. Her social media presence reflects a modern reporter’s role across broadcast, digital, and live political coverage.
Akayla Gardner Net Worth
Akayla Gardner’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Her income likely comes from her salary as a White House correspondent and political journalist. She may also earn from television appearances, speaking opportunities, journalism events, or professional panels, though no verified public records confirm separate business ventures or endorsement income.
As a rising national political correspondent with experience at Bloomberg and MS NOW, Gardner appears financially established within her profession. However, her public profile is based on journalism, not celebrity earnings or business investments.
