Chris Cillizza

By uniquely viewing politics as a “theatre” – or an endless drama of opposing forces,Chris Cillizza now stands as one of Washington’s most exciting analysts of campaign politics. With both humor and probing insight, the self-described political junkie speaks to a variety of audiences with great clarity on the nuances of national and local campaign politics. His extensive media appearances, spanning from TV to print to the blogosphere, have led The Washingtonian to name him one of the top 50 journalists working in Washington today. Cillizza seamlessly uses his immense reservoir of political knowledge to examine the past and provide insights on the constantly evolving state of Washington politics. His commentary additionally explores the meaning of the current presidency with prodigious depth and a discerning eye for future political trends.

Multi-Front Political Coverage. Prior to a five year stay with Roll Call, a Washington-based publication covering the legislative and political events of Capitol Hill, Cillizza reported on gubernatorial races and southern House races for Charlie Cook’s Cook Political Report. He also wrote a column for Congress Daily. Once he joined The Washington Post, Cillizza became the first reporter from a major news organization to do online work as a White House political correspondent. He also launched the widely popular weblog, The Fix, which focuses on American electoral politics, including gubernatorial, Congressional, and presidential elections. Now regarded as one of the most heavily trafficked blogs in Washington, The Fix receives upwards of 575,000 internet hits daily and serves the readership of both seasoned political veterans and casual Washington observers. The blog also includes a weekly “Friday Line” section where the 10 closest electoral races of an electoral cycle – as judged by Cillizza – are profiled and analyzed. His freelance pieces have also appeared in various publications such as The Atlantic Monthly, Washingtonian, and Slate.

Unrivaled Commentary. A 1998 English graduate of Georgetown University and a former student of Pulitzer-prize winning journalist George Will, Cillizza has cultivated a distinct reputation as one of the most keen, witty, and impartial observers of politics inside the Beltway. Having provided political commentary as a guest on CNN, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC, Cillizza is able to deliver penetrating analysis on the ways in which candidates must meet the 21st century demands of their constituents. He was also recently named an MSNBC political analyst. As someone incredibly involved with and attuned to fluctuating media standards, Cillizza’s coverage of political races seeks to capture and explain the complex relationship between politicians and an evolving electorate. Having appeared on MTV and YouTube as a debate moderator between presidential candidates, Cillizza has become aware of the emerging importance of social media, young voters, and growing generational influences on campaign politics. As Cillizza knows well by now, “politics is never over.” In this light, he consistently dazzles audiences with unparalleled erudition and a view of politics that is both thrilling and evocative of today’s world.