CHARLIE COOK

Renowned Political Analyst and Founder of The Cook Political Report

There are political junkies, and then there’s Charlie Cook, the eponymous founder of The Cook Political Report. He is one of the most popular political handicappers in the business and Leading Authorities’ most frequently booked speaker, year in and year out. With his encyclopedic knowledge, memorable stories, quick wit, and meaningful insights, his speeches focus on the broad implications of the latest election results. Using poll numbers, economic indicators, and historical data, he forecasts the fortunes of each party in a balanced, non-partisan way and furnishes audiences with the information they need regarding today’s political environment.

The New York Times called him “one of the best political handicappers in the nation.” The Washington Post said Cook is “perhaps the best non-partisan tracker of Congressional races,” and The Wall Street Journal deemed him “the Picasso of election analysis.” Washingtonian magazine called him a “master observer” and “the man who knows more about politics than anyone else.” In 2010, Cook was a recipient of the American Political Science Association’s prestigious Carey McWilliams Award to honor “a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics.”

AMY WALTER

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Popular On-Air Political Analyst

For more than 20 years, Amy Walter has built a reputation as an accurate, objective, and insightful political analyst with unparalleled access to campaign insiders and decision-makers. Known as one of the best political journalists covering Washington, she is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and a frequent on-air analyst. Her work is trusted by Democrats and Republicans alike. She knows how to unearth what really matters in politics, and her forecasting has a proven track record of success, which is essential for those whose jobs depend on accurate political forecasting.

Washingtonian named Walter one of the “Top 50 Journalists,” and she won The Washington Post’s Crystal Ball Award for her spot-on election predictions. She is also frequently quoted in top newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. Amy discusses current events, politics, congressional culture, the Washington political scene, and the mood and direction of the country.

DAVID WASSERMAN

Senior Election Analyst, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and NBC Contributor

David Wasserman is the U.S. House editor and senior election analyst for the non-partisan newsletter, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, and a contributor to NBC News. Called “whip smart” and “scrupulously nonpartisan” by The Los Angeles Times, he analyzes the current political environment in presentations that he can tailor to his audiences’ specific interests or locales.

His analysis looks at both national and local politics, what the future holds for the Parties, the three critical trends that affect voting, and the 12 clusters of voters that affect voting in the United States. Incorporating up-to-date examples from the past week of news and fascinating political facts, Wasserman’s presentations are entertaining and interesting, and he uses analogies that are as smart as they are memorable. Watch his presentation here.

JESSICA TAYLOR

Senate & Governors Editor, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter

Jessica Taylor is the Senate and Governors Editor for The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. Founded in 1984, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter provides analyses of presidential, U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial races. The New York Times has called The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, "a newsletter that both parties regard as authoritative."

Taylor has previously served as a senior analyst/reporter for The Rothenberg Political Report (now Inside Elections), where her quotes and analysis appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and numerous other publications. She has reported on politics for several prestigious outlets over the past decade — including the NBC News Political Unit, National Journal, Politico and The Hill, where she served as campaign editor. She has appeared on MSNBC, Fox News, C-SPAN and CNN. Her expert analysis contributed to real-time election night coverage and analysis at CBS in 2012.