Larry Sabato
Election Analyst and Author; University of Virginia Professor of Politics; Founder and Head of the U.Va. Center for Politics
- Mastermind behind “Sabato’s Crystal Ball,” one of the most accurate election forecast sites on the web
- Best-selling author who appears multiple times a week on national and international TV
- Customizable talk with generous Q&A time spent on current political races
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About Larry Sabato
Download ProfileDr. Larry J. Sabato is a New York Times best-selling author, four-time Emmy winner, and one of the nation’s most respected political analysts. A frequent guest on major networks such as CNN, BBC, and CNN International, he provides sharp, insightful commentary on American politics. A Rhodes Scholar, Dr. Sabato is the founder and director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics and has held visiting appointments at Oxford and Cambridge universities. Over his distinguished career, he has taught more than 20,000 students, earning the Thomas Jefferson Award, the University of Virginia’s highest honor. In 2021, he celebrated his 50th year of affiliation with UVA.
Dr. Sabato has authored or edited more than two dozen books on American politics. His latest, Campaign of Chaos: Trump, Biden, Harris and the 2024 American Election, analyzed the unique November 2024 elections with the late exit of President Biden from the campaign and the resurgence of President Donald J. Trump for his second term.
As the head of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, he has built one of the most trusted political forecasting platforms in the country. The Crystal Ball has won numerous accolades, including a feature as a Jeopardy! question. The Pew Charitable Trust ranked it the #1 leader in political prediction, and The Daily Beast recognized it as a top political site. In 2020, the Harvard Political Review declared it the most accurate in forecasting the Electoral College, stating: “While crystal balls may not exist in real life, Larry Sabato’s editorial team might be the next best thing.” In 2024, an independent review by Split Ticket found the Crystal Ball to be the most accurate of all predictors of House, Senate, and presidential elections.
Dr. Sabato has won four Emmy Awards for historical and political documentaries, including:
- Out of Order – an exposé on dysfunction in the U.S. Senate
- The Kennedy Half-Century – a look at JFK’s life, assassination, and enduring impact
- Feeling Good About America – an exploration of the 1976 presidential election
- Charlottesville – a gripping account of the tragic events of August 11-12, 2017
An influential voice in political discourse, Dr. Sabato is active on social media. His Twitter feed (@LarrySabato) was named one of the 140 best by Time Magazine.
Speech Topics
Download TopicsSabato, the master of the most accurate website on politics and the man who repeatedly takes home top honors for his election predictions, gives his up-to-the-minute update on politics and the upcoming elections for President and Congress. His presentation can be tailored to cover key state elections and other political topics, as well. A multi-media PowerPoint presentation can accompany the talk, at the option of the client. A question-and-answer session is encouraged.
Larry Sabato’s book A More Perfect Constitution is a call for a new American Constitutional Convention, with 23 specific, major changes proposed. This makes for a great debate and discussion with any group interested in American politics and government. A multi-media PowerPoint presentation can accompany the talk, at the option of the client. A question-and-answer session is encouraged.
Sabato takes his audience through an entertaining and informative history of television and politics, using classic political TV ads from Eisenhower and Kennedy to Trump and Biden.
Based on his book The Kennedy Half Century, Larry Sabato explores the fascinating and powerful influence President Kennedy has had over five decades on media, the general public, and each of his nine presidential successors. Due to his extraordinary promise and untimely assassination, millions of Americans remain captivated by his 1000 days in office. Through interviews with major political and media figures and ordinary citizens alike, along with previously unseen archival finds, Sabato shows how JFK’s presidency has strongly influenced the policies and decisions of every president since.
Related Links
A Return to Normalcy? The 2020 Election That (Almost) Broke America
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The Kennedy Half Century
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The Sixth Year Itch: The Rise and Fall of the George W. Bush Presidency
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Peepshow
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OVERTIME! The Election 200 Thriller
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Midterm Madness: The Elections of 2002
View
Feeding Frenzy: Attack Journalism and American Politics
View
Get in the Booth: 2006 Edition
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A More Perfect Constitution
View
Larry Sabato's Latest “Crystal Ball” Update
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