Andrew Bates (spokesman)

Andrew Bates
Bates at a press conference in 2022
White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary
In office
May 7, 2024 – January 20, 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
SecretaryKarine Jean-Pierre
Preceded byOlivia Dalton (Principal Deputy)
Succeeded byHarrison Fields (Principal Deputy)
United States Trade Representative Press Secretary
In office
September 2014 – May 2016
PresidentBarack Obama
RepresentativeMichael Froman
Preceded byAnne Eisenhower
Succeeded byMatt Swenson
United States Trade Representative Deputy Press Secretary
In office
December 2013 – September 2014
PresidentBarack Obama
RepresentativeMichael Froman
Personal details
BornAndrew James Bates
(1987-01-08) January 8, 1987 (age 39)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
EducationNorth Carolina State University (BA)

Andrew James Bates (born January 8, 1987) is an American political staffer who is currently managing crisis communication for Senator Ruben Gallego.

He previously was Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Deputy Press Secretary for the Biden Administration. A member of the Democratic Party, he was director of rapid response for the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign. He also worked in the Obama-Biden Administration as press secretary for the U.S. Trade Representative (2014–2016) and as a communications aide in the White House (2010–2013).

Early life and education

Bates is a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He graduated from Richard Joshua Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem. He has a bachelor's degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University, where he graduated in 2009 after taking time off to intern for the 2008 Obama campaign.

Career

Obama administration

In December 2013, Bates became press secretary to the U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman.

2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign

Bates was the North Carolina communications director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.

2020 Joe Biden presidential campaign

At its launch in April 2019, Bates joined the 2020 presidential campaign of former Vice President Joe Biden as Director of Rapid Response.

Biden administration

Bates was the White House Press Office's point person for the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court, working under Ben LaBolt.

In October 2022, Bates was promoted to White House Deputy Press Secretary and Senior Communications Adviser for Strategic Response. In May 2024, he became Senior Deputy Press Secretary.

The May 2025 book Original Sin, by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, states Bates was the "tip of the spear" in the public-facing defense of President Biden's mental acuity during his administration.

Ruben Gallego

In June 2026, as the House Ethics Committee probed his campaign finance records, Senator Ruben Gallego hired Bates to advise him on crisis communications as he faced blowback for alleged sexual indiscretions and his endorsements of Graham Platner and Eric Swalwell.

Personal life

On September 17, 2022, Bates married Megan Apper.

References

  1. ↑ Santaliz, Kate (June 9, 2026). "Scoop: Gallego hires Andrew Bates for crisis comms around Swalwell". Axios.
  2. ↑ Murray, Stephanie. "Sen. Ruben Gallego hires ex-Biden aide noted for defending president". The Arizona Republic.
  3. ↑ Linskey, Annie. "White House hires Andrew Bates as deputy press secretary". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  4. ↑ Singman, Brooke. "Meet the Rapid Response director: Top Biden aide on how the 2020 campaign was unlike any other". Fox News. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  5. ↑ "USTR Announces New Press Secretary". World Trade Online. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  6. ↑ Allen, Mike (December 13, 2013). "OBAMA'S 2014 AGENDA to reflect rise of Warren, de Blasio -- CARNEY VOWS to improve photog access -- BOEHNER SCOLDS hard right groups -- KEN DUBERSTEIN to chair IOP -- B'DAYS: Elleithee, Purdum". Politico. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  7. ↑ O'Donnell, Lisa (March 26, 2021). "Reynolds grad joins the White House press team. He'll be among Biden's senior spokesmen". Winston-Salem Journal. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  8. ↑ Allen, Mike (December 13, 2013). "OBAMA'S 2014 AGENDA to reflect rise of Warren, de Blasio -- CARNEY VOWS to improve photog access -- BOEHNER SCOLDS hard right groups -- KEN DUBERSTEIN to chair IOP -- B'DAYS: Elleithee, Purdum". Politico. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  9. ↑ Garbarine, Rachelle (June 8, 2021). "White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates Helps Shape President's Messages to the Public". College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  10. ↑ Garbarine, Rachelle (June 8, 2021). "White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates Helps Shape President's Messages to the Public". College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  11. ↑ Singman, Brooke. "Meet the Rapid Response director: Top Biden aide on how the 2020 campaign was unlike any other". Fox News. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  12. ↑ Kim, Seung Min. "White House unveils Supreme Court nomination team". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  13. ↑ Scherer, Michael. "Biden makes last promotions for White House communications team". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  14. ↑ Sink, Justin (May 7, 2024). "White House Promotes Press Aides as Biden Sharpens 2024 Focus". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  15. ↑ Miller, Andrew Mark, and Cameron Cawthorne, "New book exposes how top Biden comms staffer was 'tip of the spear' covering up Biden's cognitive decline", Fox News, 22 May 2025
  16. ↑ Sentner, Irie (June 9, 2026). "Gallego tapped campaign cash for family travel, Super Bowl tickets, records show". Politico. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  17. ↑ Chamlee, Virginia (September 20, 2022). "Biden Staffers Celebrate Their Love with September Wedding". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on August 11, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.