Who is Linsey Davis? What to know about ABC anchor moderating Harris-Trump debate

It's a momentous week in the 2024 presidential election, with former President Donald Trump set to face Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday in a race that polls show is tight.

Sharing moderating duties will be ABC anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis, the latter of whom has never hosted a presidential debate between the Republican and Democratic nominees.

The debate, the second for Trump and the first for Harris since she became the Democratic nominee, was formally announced on Aug. 16.

Trump and Harris will face off for the first time at the historic National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia and there won't be a live audience, ABC News announced last month. The previous debate in June, between Trump and President Joe Biden, also did not have a studio audience.

Here's what you need to know about moderator and ABC News anchor and correspondent Linsey Davis.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Muted mics, no pre-written notes:What to know about the Harris-Trump debate rules

Who is Linsey Davis? Current job, show

Linsey Davis hosts "ABC News Live Prime," ABC News' streaming evening newscast, and weekend "World News Tonight" on Sundays. She is also a correspondent for "World News Tonight," "Good Morning America," "20/20" and "Nightline."

Davis has been with ABC since 2007, starting as a New York-based correspondent for ABC NewsOne, the network's affiliate news service. She has been on the forefront of major political coverage including the 2022 midterm elections, the 2020 presidential election and the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, her bio on ABC says.

Over the course of her career, Davis has interviewed a plethora of prominent personalities at pivotal moments including Jonathan Majors, Boris Johnson, Bill Cosby, Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Mike Pence, Karen Pence, Ron Desantis, Nikki Haley, Mike Johnson, Beto O'Rourke, Wes Moore, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Herschel Walker, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Kanye West, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Anita Hill and Bill Gates among others.

She has also interviewed Vice President Kamala Harris, most recently in July 2023.

Linsey Davis education

Davis completed her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Virginia and earned a master of arts degree in communications from New York University.

Has Linsey Davis ever moderated a debate before?

While this is the first time Davis will be moderating a presidential debate between the final Republican and Democratic candidates, she earlier moderated ABC News’ Democratic presidential debates in September 2019 and February 2020, according to ABC.

More about Linsey Davis

Davis describes herself as a Christian wife and mother, as well as an anchor and an author, on her website.

The ABC News anchor has written six books between August 2019 and March 2024. They are: "Girls of the World," "The Smallest Spot of a Dot," "How High Is Heaven," "Stay This Way Forever," "The World Is Awake," and "One Big Heart."

She is also the recipient of several awards including two Emmys, a duPont-Columbia Award and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award.

Davis is also an avid runner, participating in races in every state with her husband.

Contributing: Sarah Gleason, Rebecca Morin, Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.