Staff

Kevin Turpin II is the president of National Journal. As the former senior vice president of National Journal, Turpin led the product development, strategy research, digital, and marketing teams. In this role, he oversaw product research, evaluated potential partnerships, and established operational infrastructure for the new product pipeline. For more than a decade working at National Journal, Turpin has produced successful proposals to increase profit margins, identified efficiencies in vendor relationships, and created new revenue lines for the organization. Turpin also built a strategic advisory group of 60 government affairs executives from Fortune 100 corporations and influential trade associations; resulting in the launch of National Journal’s Leadership Council. He is also responsible for the launch of Policy Brands Roundtable and the Network Science Initiative. He began his career gaining deep insights into the Washington media market and the needs of public policy professionals while serving in roles ranging from sales to manager of signature National Journal products such as The Hotline. A proud Hoya, Turpin is a graduate of Georgetown University

Afzal Bari serves as the Chief Operating Officer, where he oversees the product development, marketing, events, operations, the Presentation Center, and the Leadership Council's research functions. Afzal was previously a lead technology analyst at Bloomberg Government and advisor to several startups. He also spent five years with the Corporate Executive Board in its technology practice and its sales operations consulting division. Afzal holds an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and undergraduate degrees from the University of Maryland College Park. He lives in Chevy Chase, Md. with his wife Sofia and their two young children.

Katie Collins is the chief business development officer, senior vice president of National Journal. In this role, she manages the company’s relationships with heads of government affairs at Fortune 500 companies and leaders of industry trade associations and oversees business development strategy.

In her previous role as vice president of development, Katie successfully launched the Network Science Initiative and managed National Journal’s strategic advertising relationships. She also helped lead the transition of National Journal’s client base from individual subscriptions to organizational memberships as National Journal shifted from a media company to a consulting model providing research and advisory services.

Katie’s prior experience spans nearly 15 years in business development and advocacy at National Journal, Corporate Executive Board, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Katie is a graduate of Georgetown University. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband.

Chris Dornfeld is vice president of digital strategy at National Journal, where he’s responsible for crafting and executing the vision for NJ’s interactive offerings as head of the digital products team. Prior to National Journal, Chris held senior leadership roles in engineering and analytics at Manifest and co-founded a DC-based web development firm. Chris holds a B.S. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon and is widely recognized for typing very fast and very loud. He lives in Washington.

Luke Hartig is Senior Vice President for Product Strategy & Consulting. He leads National Journal’s policy stakeholder mapping service, the Network Science Initiative, and new policymaker research service.

Prior to joining National Journal, Luke served as a senior director at the National Security Council (NSC), where he advised the President and White House leadership on counterterrorism matters and co-managed the NSC’s counterterrorism policy and analysis team. Luke previously served in a range of government roles at the Pentagon, State Department, Office of Management and Budget, and Government Accountability Office. Luke began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala.

Luke holds a master’s in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a B.A. in international relations from Boston University. He is an adjunct fellow at New America, a member of the editorial board of Just Security, a member of the advisory councils for Hostage US and the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, and a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Luke lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two sons.

Gina Kim is general manager of Presentation Center and Research at National Journal. In this role, she provides the vision and drives the strategy for the product suite, leading a team of content producers and managers. Gina previously spent five years at Grant Thornton, including four years as director of public policy and external affairs. Gina also served as research director at CEB, managing quantitative and best-practice research studies for senior-most finance executives. During a six-year tenure at The NASDAQ Stock Market, she held a variety of research and strategy positions, including roles in the corporate client group and office of the vice chairman. Gina holds a master's degree in labor economics from Cornell University, where she was a Sage Graduate Fellow, and a bachelor's degree in economics from Bryn Mawr College. She resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband and two daughters.

Lesley Martinez is managing director of marketing at National Journal where she is responsible for developing NJ’s marketing strategy and vision and overseeing marketing operations and events. Prior to National Journal, Lesley spent six years at CEB where she managed demand generation, acquisition marketing, and retention strategies for their finance clients both in the large enterprise and smb space. Prior to CEB she was at The Chronicle of Higher Education/The Chronicle of Philanthropy managing marketing efforts for corporate advertisers and new product launches. Lesley is a D.C. native and attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. She lives in Virginia with her husband and two daughters.

Jackie Breuer is the associate director of member services at National Journal. She was born and raised in the Silicon Valley, California before moving to Washington, D.C. to attend American University. She graduated with a B.A. in international relations with a focus in the Middle East and North Africa and a minor in Arabic language. She consulted for the federal government before coming to National Journal. She currently lives in Washington, D.C.

Xavier is an intern on the People Product team. He will graduate in May 2020 with a joint degree in International Affairs and Economics from GWU. Previously, Xavier has worked as a research intern at the American Enterprise Institute, a volunteer manager for multiple non-profits, and president of Delta Lambda Phi Social Fraternity. He currently lives in DC, but was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina.

Lizzy Andrew is an associate dedicated advisor for National Journal, working with the federal government including all agencies and Capitol Hill. Originally from Holland, MI, she graduated from the Catholic University of America with a B.M. in musical theatre. Prior to National Journal she worked as the student engagement specialist for the Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art at her alma mater.

Christie is a senior dedicated advisor with National Journal. Originally from Baltimore, Christie graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland where she earned a B.A. in political science and a minor in philosophy. Prior to National Journal, she spent four years at the Advisory Board Company across a variety of account management roles. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Charlie Dillon is the associate director of business development at National Journal. Charlie graduated from Georgetown University, where he earned a B.A. in government and was co-captain of Georgetown's baseball team. Originally from Chicago, Charlie currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Sonja Erchak is an associate for subscriber services and revenue operations at National Journal. Sonja graduated from Georgetown University in May, 2018 with a B.A. in english and psychology. Before joining National Journal, Sonja worked at Quinn’s Auction Galleries selling fine and decorative arts. Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, she now resides in Washington, D.C.

Brianna Gilmore is a membership development associate at National Journal. She graduated from Brown University in 2019 with a degree in English literature. Prior to National Journal, Brianna worked as a development intern at several nonprofit organizations around the country. She is a native of Northern Virginia and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Mookie serves as a product analyst for National Journal's Leadership Council. Previously, he held internships with the Library of Congress and the NBA; he also taught for the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Mookie graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in commerce and foreign affairs. He was raised and resides in McLean, Virginia.

Sarah Hofmann is an associate dedicated advisor at National Journal. She attended Elon University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in political science and international studies. Prior to joining National Journal, Sarah worked for the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and on a 2016 presidential campaign.

Aleksia Ilic Forster is an associate director for National Journal, working with the federal government including all agencies and Capitol Hill.

Mustafa Koten serves as National Journal’s manager of business data and operations. In this role, he is responsible for optimizing the workflow of the company’s sales, marketing and customer support divisions through the implementation and management of e-business solutions such as Salesforce, Workday, Wrike and Marketo.

In his previous role as a business data analyst, he was responsible for designing and delivering enterprise-level Salesforce implementations for National Journal and its parent company Atlantic Media. Mustafa also previously served as the manager of business data and operations in Quartz’s Hong Kong office.

Prior to joining Atlantic Media, Mustafa executed a wide range of projects as a business and systems analyst for Blackboard Inc. He has extensive expertise in working with organizations across the media, technology, education, agribusiness, automotive and nonprofit industries, including multinationals based in Europe and Asia.

Mustafa holds a MBA from The George Washington University and a B.S. in industrial engineering from Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey. He currently speaks four languages and is in the process of becoming fluent in Chinese (Mandarin).

Helen Marsh is an associate dedicated adviser with the member services team. Prior to joining the National Journal, Helen interned in the House of Representatives. Originally from New Orleans, Helen graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts in communication.

Laura Mears is a client engagement associate for National Journal. She attended college at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where she ran cross country and graduated with a degree in international relations. Previously, she worked as a legal analyst for a telecom law firm in D.C., and has also interned on the Hill. Laura grew up in Vermont, and currently resides in Washington, D.C., where she attempts to run half marathons and eat her way through every Thai restaurant in the DMV.

John Louis “JL” Michaud is a Research Associate with the People Product team and a lifelong Alexandria, VA resident. He graduated from the University of Virginia in May 2019 with a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and a minor in German. During his time at UVA, he played intercollegiate ultimate frisbee and studied the European Union and German language in Freiburg, Germany. Prior to joining National Journal, JL interned at the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and Capitol Hill Consulting Group, a bipartisan lobbying firm.

Caleb Schafer is a dedicated advisor at National Journal. Caleb graduated from the University of Kansas with a Master’s in global and international studies after completing his B.S. in policy analysis at Indiana University. Prior to joining the National Journal, Caleb served as the director of Graduate Affairs for the University of Kansas and interned with the House of Representatives. Originally from Indianapolis, Caleb currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Maia Walker is a fellow on National Journal’s member services team. Originally from Miami, FL, Maia is a recent graduate of Duke University where she studied psychology and art history. Prior to joining National Journal, she served as the editor in chief for Duke’s digital publication The Standard and interned with the customer experience team at Soludos. Maia currently lives in Washington, D.C.

Grace Wisbey is a membership development associate at National Journal. She attended Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA and graduated with a degree in international business. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Grace now lives in D.C.

Jack Woltman is a manager of business development at National Journal. He recently graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in international relations and french. Originally from Upstate New York, he now resides in Washington, D.C.

Leah Askarinam is the editor of Hotline, National Journal's indispensable daily tipsheet on campaigns and elections.

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Brendan Bordelon is the tech and cybersecurity policy reporter at National Journal. Previously he worked as a tech and cybersecurity reporter at Morning Consult and as a political reporter for National Review. He hails from the San Francisco Bay Area and now resides in Washington, D.C.

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Ronald Brownstein, a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of presidential campaigns, is a National Journal contributing editor and a senior editor at The Atlantic. Prior to joining Atlantic Media, Brownstein was the national affairs columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He has also served as the Times' national political correspondent and the author of the weekly Washington Outlook column. Brownstein is a National Journal alumnus, having served as the magazine's White House and national politics correspondent from 1983-1986, and then as its west coast correspondent through 1989. In addition, he currently serves as a senior political analyst for CNN and also served as an electoral analyst for ABC News during the 2012 election. Previously, he served as a political analyst for CNN from 1998 through 2004 and has appeared on the Sunday shows of all four broadcast networks as well as other programs on cable and broadcast. His sixth and most recent book, The Second Civil War: How Extreme Partisanship Has Paralyzed Washington and Polarized America, was published by Penguin in November 2007. Brownstein was twice named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, receiving that recognition for his coverage of both the 1996 and 2004 presidential campaigns. In addition, he is the recipient of several journalism awards, including the Exceptional Merit in Media award from the National Women's Political Caucus, the Excellence in Media award from the National Council on Public Polls in 2005, and the Journalist of the Year award from the Los Angeles Press Club in 2005. In 2007, the American Political Science Association presented him its Carey McWilliams award for lifetime achievement, granted to honor a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics.

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Alex Clearfield is Associate Editor for National Journal and National Journal Hotline. Before joining National Journal in 2017 as a staff correspondent he was a writer and researcher for CQ Roll Call covering the 2016 congressional elections and writing profiles of members of Congress. He is a native of Voorhees, NJ, and a graduate of Johns Hopkins University.

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Zach Cohen is National Journal’s Senate correspondent and previously covered statewide campaigns for National Journal Hotline. Zach’s work has been published by The Washington Post, The Atlantic, TIME Magazine, and USA Today. He has also appeared on C-SPAN, Fox News, CBSN, and SiriusXM. Zach graduated with honors from American University’s School of International Service, where his reporting and editing at The Eagle garnered multiple awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. Zach was born and raised in New Jersey.

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George E. Condon Jr. is White House correspondent for National Journal. He joined National Journal at the beginning of the Obama administration, covering the White House for CongressDaily. Prior to that, he covered the White House and national politics as Washington bureau chief for Copley News Service and the San Diego Union-Tribune. Condon has interviewed nine presidents and reported from 88 countries. He led the team that won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for coverage of the corruption of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Condon is a past president of the White House Correspondents Association and the Gridiron Club and past chairman of the National Press Foundation. He is a native of Cleveland and a graduate of Georgetown University.

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Charlie Cook is editor and publisher of The Cook Political Report, an independent, non-partisan newsletter he founded in 1984, and since 1998, a political analyst for National Journal, where he writes two weekly columns. In 2010, Charlie was a co-recipient of the American Political Science Association's prestigious Carey McWilliams award to honor "a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics." Charlie served as a Resident Fellow in 2013 at the Institute of Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

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Erin Covey is an editorial fellow for National Journal. Previously, she was an intern at C-SPAN and an intern and news assistant at NPR. She graduated with a B.A. in journalism from Liberty University, where she was a news editor at the school paper. Erin is originally from San Antonio, Texas and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

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Harrison Cramer is National Security Correspondent, covering defense and foreign policy issues. He previously was a National Journal fellow, and before that held internships at The Century Foundation and The Council on American Islamic Relations. Harrison is originally from Wellesley, Mass., and graduated from Middlebury College with a degree in political science and Arabic.

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Brian Dabbs is the energy and environment policy reporter at National Journal. Previously he covered the same topics at Bloomberg BNA. Prior to that, Brian reported on U.S. trade policy and corresponded from East and North Africa. He has a bachelor's degree from Western State Colorado University and a master's in journalism from Georgetown. Brian grew up near Annapolis, MD.

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Tom DeFrank is a contributing editor at National Journal and was Washington bureau chief of the New York Daily News from 1996 to 2012. DeFrank was Newsweek's senior White House correspondent for a quarter century, covering eight Presidents and 12 Presidential campaigns. He has reported on the resignation of one President, the impeachment of a second, and was an eyewitness to assassination attempts against a third. His reporting has been praised as "riveting." ABC News calls him "excellent, well-connected and influential," and "legendary." The American Journalism Review rated him "one of the unsung stars of Washington journalism." And President Gerald R. Ford called him "one of the finest journalists I have ever known. Everyone I know feels the same way: you are fair, trustworthy and professional."

His 2007 book on 30 years of private conversations with President Ford, "Write it When I'm Gone," was a New York Times and Washington Post bestseller. In 2006 DeFrank won the Gerald R. Ford Prize for distinguished Presidential reporting. He co-authored Secretary of State James A. Baker III's memoirs and "Quest for the Presidency 1992," Newsweek's critically-acclaimed look at the 1992 Clinton-Bush election. He has been a student of the Presidency since 1968, when he took his first Presidential trip with Lyndon Johnson as a Newsweek intern. He traveled extensively with Richard Nixon and was assigned to Vice President Gerald Ford in October 1973. A few weeks before Nixon's resignation, he was reassigned to the White House and remained when Ford became President in August 1974.

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Jennifer Duffy is a Senior Editor for The Cook Political Report, where she is responsible for U.S. Senate and Governors races. Founded in 1984, The Cook Political Report provides analyses of Presidential, U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial races. The New York Times has called The Cook Political Report, "a newsletter that both parties regard as authoritative."Jennifer has 26 years of experience in campaign politics, the last 23 of which have focused on non-partisan political analysis. In 1985, she served as Press Secretary for the National Republican Senatorial Committee; she joined The Cook Political Report in 1988 as its first Assistant Editor. While continuing to work as the Report's contributing editor, Jennifer also was a senior account executive with Hill and Knowlton Public Affairs Worldwide and an associate with the lobbying firm of Cassidy & Associates.In 1995, Jennifer rejoined Cook & Company full-time. She has served as an off-air analyst for NBC News on Election Nights from 1996 through 2012. Jennifer has been quoted in numerous publications and has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, PBS, and C-SPAN's "Washington Journal." In June of 2011, BusinessInsider.com named her one of the 13 savviest political analysts in the country. She is a frequent public speaker on elections and national political trends.A native of Rhode Island, Jennifer received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Government from Georgetown University in 1985. In May of 2012, Rhode Island College awarded her an honorary Doctorate in Social Science.

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Jeff Dufour is editor in chief for National Journal Daily. Prior to National Journal, he was a columnist and editor for The Hill newspaper and the Washington Examiner. He also spent six years as the D.C. editor for UrbanDaddy, a lifestyle media company. He began his journalism career in 1998 at American Healthline, then a National Journal product. He has been a panelist and guest on NBC's "Today Show," Fox News, MSNBC, "The Dennis Miller Show," Sirius XM, and WTOP radio. A Connecticut native, Jeff is a graduate of Georgetown University.

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Erin Durkin is a health care correspondent at National Journal covering Congress. She previously was the managing editor and reporter for FDA Week covering food, drug, and device regulation. Durkin also contributed to a project at The Center for Public Integrity by analyzing Medicare Advantage data. Originally from Baltimore, she graduated from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland in 2013.

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Drew Gerber is a staff correspondent with National Journal Hotline, covering Senate races. A Chicago area native, Drew was previously a Hotline fellow and before that interned at The Washington Post and the Spokane Spokesman-Review. He graduated from Northwestern University in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and global health.

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Charles Green served as editor of National Journal from 1999 to 2013. During his tenure, National Journal and its reporters won numerous awards, including the National Magazine Award, the National Headliner Award, the Gerald R. Ford Award, the Military Reporters and Editors Award, the Aldo Beckman Award, the American Graphic Design Award, the Sigma Delta Chi Award, and an Editor & Publisher award for online journalism.

Green joined National Journal in 1997 as deputy editor after 17 years in the Knight Ridder Washington bureau. At Knight Ridder he covered Congress, the White House, politics, and social issues before becoming a news editor and coordinating the bureau's coverage of the 1996 presidential election.

Before joining Knight Ridder, Green worked as a reporter and editor at the Hagerstown (Md.) Morning Herald and a reporter at States News Service. Green, a graduate of the University of Maryland, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting in 1992 for a series he wrote on Medicaid. He was part of teams of journalists who won the George Polk award for coverage of the Iran-contra affair and the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting for coverage of flooding in Fort Wayne, Ind.

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Jerry Hagstrom is a columnist for National Journal. He writes and publishes The Hagstrom Report, a daily email newsletter on agriculture and for DTN, an Omaha-based agricultural news service.

Prior to his role as a columnist, Hagstrom covered agriculture and politics for National Journal. In the 1980s he pioneered the magazine's coverage of the political consulting industry. He is the author of Beyond Reagan: The New Landscape of American Politics; To Be, Not To Be Seen: The Mystery of Swedish Business; and, with Neal R. Peirce, of The Book of America: Inside 50 States Today.

Hagstrom grew up on a North Dakota farm homesteaded by his grandparents. He is a graduate of the University of Denver and has been a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University and a research fellow at the Freedom Forum Media Studies Center at Columbia University. He lectures frequently in the United States and abroad. The American Journalism Review has named Hagstrom one of its "unsung heroes" for "sterling work in the shadows" covering agriculture.

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Matt Holt is a staff correspondent with National Journal Hotline, specializing in the 2020 presidential race. Before joining the Hotline team, Matt interned for NBC's Meet the Press and worked at CNN. A Rhode Island native, he graduated from American University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science.

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Josh Kraushaar is the political editor for National Journal, and pens the weekly "Against the Grain" column. Kraushaar has held several positions since joining Atlantic Media in 2010, including as managing editor for politics at National Journal, and as executive editor and editor-in-chief of The Hotline. In addition to his management of The Hotline, Kraushaar plays a critical role in shaping National Journal's overall political coverage.

Prior to working at National Journal, he was a political correspondent for Politico, where he reported on congressional campaigns and managed the "Scorecard" blog devoted to up-to-the-minute coverage of elections. Kraushaar has also served as the editor of House Race Hotline, for which he covered the 2006 election cycle.

Kraushaar has appeared as a political analyst on television and radio, including FOX News, MSNBC, CNN, National Public Radio and C-SPAN.

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Madelaine is the governors reporter for National Journal Hotline. Originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Madelaine earned a B.A. from the University of Chicago in political science. Prior to joining National Journal she was a political intern at ABC News covering the 2016 Iowa Caucuses. Madelaine also participated in a yearlong fellowship at the UChicago Institute of Politics in which she studied the leadership methodology of Sargent Shriver. Madelaine currently resides in Washington, D.C.

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Amy Walter is the national editor of The Cook Political Report where she provides analysis of the issues, trends and events that shape the political environment. Her weekly column appears at CookPolitical.com.

Over the past 14 years, Walter has built a reputation as an accurate, objective and insightful political analyst with unparalleled access to campaign insiders and decision-makers. She joins The Cook Political Report after a successful stint as political director of ABC News. Before ABC, Walter served as editor-in-chief of National Journal's Hotline where she served as the political publication's primary voice. She provided regular analysis of the national political environment in her weekly NationalJournal.com column, On the Trail.

This is Amy's second tour of duty with The Cook Political Report. From 1997 to 2007, she served as senior editor where she covered the U.S. House.

A regular panelist on PBS's "Washington Week with Gwen Ifill," Ms. Walter has provided political analysis on almost every major political television program. She was a member of CNN's Emmy Award-winning election night team in 2006.

Walter was named one of DC's "50 Top Journalists" by Washingtonian Magazine in 2009 and honored with theWashington Post's Crystal Ball award for her spot-on election predictions in 2000. She is a member of the Board of Trustees at Colby College where she graduated summa cum laude.

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David Wasserman is House editor for The Cook Political Report, where he is responsible for handicapping and analyzing U.S. House Races. Founded in 1984, The Cook Political Report provides analyses of Presidential, U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial races. The New York Times has called The Cook Political Report "a newsletter that both parties regard as authoritative."

Nate Silver of the New York Times' FiveThirtyEight Blog has written: "Wasserman's knowledge of the nooks and crannies of political geography can make him seem like a local," and the Los Angeles Times recently called David a "whip smart" and "scrupulously nonpartisan" analyst whose "numbers nerddom was foretold at a young age."

David has served as an analyst for the NBC News Election Night Decision Desk in 2012, 2010, and 2008, and has appeared on NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, C-SPAN Washington Journal, CNN, and NPR. His commentary on House races has been cited in numerous print and online publications including Politico, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and RealClearPolitics.com.

In April 2011, David authored "Better Know a District," the The Cook Political Report's comprehensive 2012 redistricting outlook. He also serves as an associate editor of National Journal magazine and a contributor to the Almanac of American Politics 2014. A frequent speaker and guest lecturer, David has shared his insights into the latest political trends with audiences at Georgetown's Government Affairs Institute, the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics, and American University, among others.

Prior to joining The Cook Political Report in June 2007, David served for three years as House editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, a widely respected political analysis newsletter and website founded by renowned Prof. Larry J. Sabato, Director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. In that role, David led the publication to correctly predict Democrats would score a gain of 29 House seats in November 2006. He also served as an off-air analyst for BBC America's Election Night coverage of the 2006 midterm races.

David has also worked on numerous political campaigns, including competitive races in Iowa, South Dakota, and Virginia. A native of New Jersey, he holds a B.A. in government with distinction from the University of Virginia and was awarded the 2006 Emmerich-Wright Outstanding Thesis prize for his study of congressional redistricting standards.

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Mackenzie Weinger is National Journal's senior editor. She previously covered national security at The Cipher Brief and reported on politics and media at Politico. Her work has also appeared in the Financial Times, World Politics Review, and The Washington Diplomat, among others. Mackenzie is a Los Angeles native and has a master’s degree in war studies from King’s College London and a B.A. in history from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

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Casey Wooten covers tax policy for National Journal. He previously covered agriculture and tax issues for Bloomberg BNA, and served as an energy and banking reporter at Houston Business Journal. A Houston native, he has a B.A. from the University of Houston and a master's in journalism and public affairs from American University.

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Diane is a policy analyst with the Network Science Initiative. She previously worked for Samuel Hall, a think tank based in Nairobi, Kenya, conducting research in conflict and post-conflict environments for multilateral organizations and governments. She has also worked for USAID, food security non-profits, and as an independent consultant for various international development consulting firms. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Washington with a B.A. in international studies. A Seattle native, Diane now lives in Washington, DC.

Chuck Corra is a Policy Research Manager at National Journal. He earned his J.D. at Michigan State University where he studied first amendment and immigration law (among others). Previously, Chuck worked as a Director of Policy & Research at a boutique public affairs firm in Nashville, TN assisting major client research projects and grassroots campaigns in clean energy and immigration reform.

Juliette Hackett is an associate research director for the Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining National Journal, she worked as a research and strategy associate at a consulting startup. Juliette graduated from Princeton University in 2017 with a B.A. in sociology and certificates in American studies and gender & sexuality studies. She is originally from California and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Kathleen Harrington is the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Network Science Initiative team of National Journal. Prior to joining National Journal, Kathleen worked at the U.S Attorney’s Office in Boston on a team investigating a bank for financial crisis-era misconduct. The case ultimately resulted in the largest settlement imposed by the Justice Department for a crisis-era investigation. She also held internship positions at the U.S. Department of State and the International Trade Administration’s Office of Trade Negotiation and Analysis during her undergraduate and graduate studies. Kathleen holds an MBA from the George Washington University and a B.A in International Business with a focus on Asian Studies from The Catholic University of America. She studied in universities in Hong Kong, Milan, and Taiwan. Originally from the Boston area, she is now based in Washington D.C.

Natalie Hedden is a research analyst with the Network Science Initiative. She graduated from American University with a degree in political science. After graduation, she worked at National Parent Teacher Association. During that same time, she also received her Master’s degree in public policy. She is originally from New Jersey and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Rachel Heimann is an analyst for the Network Science Initiative at National Journal. She graduated from Duke University in May 2017 with a B.A. in public policy and a double minor in economics and psychology. Rachel grew up in San Francisco and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Emily is a fellow with the Network Science Initiative. She joined National Journal in 2019 following her graduation from Williams College with degrees in English and psychology. She previously interned at Thomson Reuters Special Services and conducted research on implicit cognition and evaluation. Originally from Easton, CT, Emily currently resides in Virginia.

Dan O’Brien is a senior finance policy analyst with National Journal’s Network Science Initiative. He graduated from Trinity College Dublin in May 2016, with a degree in economics and business. While at Trinity, Dan worked as a journalist and managing editor at The University Times, the largest student publication in Ireland. He previously interned in investment banking at JPMorgan Chase. Originally from Philadelphia, Dan now lives in Washington, D.C.

Amber O'Rourke is an analyst for the Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining National Journal, she worked as a policy analyst at the Council on Competitiveness. Amber graduated from Northeastern University in 2017 with a B.A. in political science and international affairs and a minor in Japanese. She grew up in Virginia and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Jackie Sirc is a research analyst with the Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining National Journal, she conducted immigration policy research as a Fulbright Scholar in Geneva, Switzerland. She previously worked at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City after graduating from the University of Richmond with a B.A. in international relations and French. Originally from Pittsburgh, Jackie now resides in Arlington, Virginia.

Marissa Soltoff is a research associate for the people product team. She is a recent graduate from George Washington University, having double majored in International Affairs and Political Science. Originally from Princeton, New Jersey, she currently lives in Washington, DC.

Rachel Topazian is the managing director of research for National Journal's Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining National Journal, Rachel conducted bioethics research at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. She is a graduate of Wheaton College, where she studied philosophy.

Kendall serves as the Network Science Initiative's director for new products and consulting. Prior to joining National Journal, she served as a consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, supporting clients across the federal health market. Kendall graduated from the College of William & Mary in May 2016 with a B.A. in government and philosophy.

Adam Aldrich is a project manager with National Journal's Presentation Center. Before joining National Journal, Adam worked as a wealth management intern at Merrill Lynch. A native Washingtonian, he graduated from Wesleyan University in 2017 with a B.A. in economics and French studies.

Jacob is a senior policy and data visualization associate at the Presentation Center. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2017 with a B.S. in economics and a master’s in international affairs. Prior to joining National Journal, he worked in international tax consulting for PwC. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Jacob now lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

Madison DeLuca is an associate with National Journal’s Presentation Center, where she focuses on energy and environment policy. Madison graduated from the University of Virginia in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in public policy & leadership and global development studies. Before joining National Journal, Madison served a term with the AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) program. As an AmeriCorps member, Madison researched and wrote reports on affordable housing and budgetary policy for the Hawai'i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Originally from Houston, Texas, she now resides in Washington, D.C.

August Gebhard-Koenigstein is a fellow with the Presentation Center. He recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a major in political science and a minor in survey research and data analytics. Prior to joining National Journal, August interned on Capitol Hill and served as a research assistant for the Wharton Public Policy Initiative. August was born in Germany but has lived in Atlanta, Georgia since he was 8 years old. He currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia.

Madeline Hanson is a policy & data visualization fellow with National Journal’s Presentation Center. She has degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in public policy and political science, with highest honors, and a minor in Hispanic studies. She is a former research assistant in the UNC public policy department, where she researched the impacts of foreign intervention on intrastate conflict outcomes. She is from Memphis, Tennessee and currently resides in Arlington, Virginia.

Gabrielle Nebeker is the project manager for the National Journal's Presentation Center Concierge service. Prior to joining the National Journal, she was a clerk at the D.C. Court of Appeals. Gabrielle received a J.D. from Michigan State College of Law and a B.A. in history from James Madison University. Gabrielle's extended family is from Michigan, but she grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, where she resides today.

Holly is a project manager for the Presentation Center. She graduated valedictorian from Franklin University Switzerland in 2017, with a double major in international banking & finance and international economics. Prior to joining National Journal, Holly worked at POPVOX and Market News International, covering economic legislation and monetary policy implications.

Daniel Stublen is the research manager for National Journal's Presentation Center. He graduated in May 2015 from Duke University with a B.A. in political science and French/francophone studies, as well as a certificate in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE). Before joining the Presentation Center, Daniel was a fellow with National Journal's Network Science Initiative. Originally from Kitty Hawk, NC, he currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Ashley Thieme is a fellow with National Journal’s Presentation Center. Ashley is a recent graduate from the University of Maryland, where she studied Government & Politics and Women’s Studies. Prior to joining the National Journal, she worked as an Evidence Project Intern at the Bipartisan Policy Center and as an intern in the Office of Congressman Hoyer on Capitol Hill. Ashley currently resides in Bethesda, MD, where she is from originally.

Paige Wulff is a project manager with the Presentation Center focusing on health policy and data visualization. A St. Louis native, she graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans with degrees in political economy and international relations. Prior to joining National Journal, she worked for the Massachusetts Health Connector and served as field staff for a Missouri senatorial campaign. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Cameron Bronson is a strategist with Ballast Research. Prior to joining Ballast, he worked at Brigham Young University as both a Teaching Assistant and a Researching Assistant. Cameron graduated from Brigham Young University in May 2019 with a B.A. in political science. He is a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Max Chambers is a qualitative research intern with Ballast who will be on the team until early August. Come fall, he will begin his sophomore year at the University of Colorado Boulder, where is is pursuing a B.A. in political science and economics.

Jason Clark serves as the senior director of strategy for Ballast Research. In this role he oversees the consulting, research, and new product functions of Ballast Research. He is also a senior advisor to the Policymakers Network, an organization focused on serving the needs of federal and state policymakers. He formerly held a number of positions with Ballast Research and National Journal, including director of product development, research consultant, and strategy & new product development associate. A native of Colorado, Jason worked in business consulting, product innovation, and strategic research before moving to D.C.

Chris Farrow is a senior associate at National Journal's Ballast Research. Prior to joining Ballast, he worked with institutional investors to help them analyze and report on the social impact of their portfolios. Chris graduated with a B.A. in economics in 2015 from Brown University.

Christian Garcia is associate director of National Journal’s Ballast Research. Prior to joining National Journal, he has held various research positions in the public policy, legal, and academic arenas. While working for the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness and the United States Senate, Christian conducted research on economic competitiveness, job creation, and community revitalization. He has also worked as an analyst for a financial litigation firm and as a research assistant for Harvard University. Christian received his honors B.A. in government from Harvard University. He is a native of Weehawken, New Jersey.

Michael Griffin is head of research at Ballast Research. Michael has more than 15 years of experience leading research and product at high-growth organizations. Michael served as an executive director and chief research cfficer at CEB (now Gartner) where he oversaw global research for CEB’s largest divisions. Michael also served as chief enterprise product officer at a leading venture-backed edtech startup and founded a data-driven research boutique in Washington, D.C. He serves as an advisor to a predictive analytics startup.

Michael is a graduate of Georgetown University where he received his B.S and J.D. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland with wife and two daughters.

Sean Harper serves as senior director of partnerships & service for Ballast Research. Sean is responsible for working with National Journal's partner organizations to assist them in better understanding and effectively positioning their policy brand among decision makers in Washington. Before joining National Journal in 2014, Sean worked as the solutions development and client delivery manager for the consulting services organizations within both of Princeton Information Ltd. and Resolvit, LLC. Sean is a native of Silver Spring, MD and graduated in 2006 from the Boston College, where he holds a B.A. in political science and a B.A. in history.

Gabby Marzke is the manager of state research at National Journal's Ballast Research. Prior to this role, Gabby worked as a fellow and then analyst at Ballast. Gabby graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2017 with a B.A. in gender studies. During her time there, she worked in outreach and research for various political organizations on campus and in the local community. Gabby hails from South Bend, Indiana (home to Mayor Pete Buttigieg) and is a proud Hoosier.

Matthew is the qualitative research manager at Ballast Research. In that capacity, he oversees Ballast’s interview-based research at the federal level. Prior to Ballast, Matthew worked at an education consulting firm conducting and managing qualitative research for district superintendents.

A native of Massachusetts, Matthew received an Honors B.A. in history and Central and Eastern European Studies from Grinnell College in Iowa. As an undergraduate, Matthew launched an NGO in the Czech Republic to teach the European refugee crisis to Czech secondary school students and supported the development of a curriculum to teach civic engagement to Iowa high school students through the lens of revolutionary Czechoslovak history.

Victoria Nolte is associate director of National Journal’s Ballast Research. Prior to joining Ballast Research, she conducted research in Germany, the UK, and France for her work as a research assistant at Jacobs University and the LSE Centre for Economic Performance, as well as her own academic work. She received a B.A. in international politics and history at Jacobs University Bremen and an MSc in economic history at the London School of Economics.

Mike Reddy is head of outreach at Ballast Research. He brings over 10 years of experience in public affairs, local politics, and policy creation and advocacy. Most recently, he worked in government innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School, advising the City of Baltimore on effective criminal justice strategies. He also recently ran a non-profit that provides post-graduate service opportunities to 200 young adults across seven countries. Mike has his master's in public policy from the University of Chicago, with a concentration on the economics of crime and criminal justice.

Meghan Sullivan is a research analyst for National Journal’s Ballast Research. Prior to joining National Journal, Meghan worked in the office of Congressman Tom Suozzi as a legislative correspondent. Meghan graduated from Brown University with an honors B.A. in political science. She is a native of Syosset, New York.

Mackai Tapleshay is the manager of quantitative research at National Journal's Ballast Research. In this role she designs, implements and manages all of Ballast's quantitative projects and systems. Before joining National Journal, Mackai ran a research firm that specialized in measuring and evaluating the impact of corporate social responsibility and sustainability initiatives for companies and their communities. A California native, she is a graduate of Santa Clara University, and holds an M.B.A. with a specialization in global, social, and sustainable enterprises.

Allison Turnipseed is a research strategist with Ballast Research. Born and raised in Athens, Georgia, she is a graduate of the University of Georgia where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and a minor in public policy and management. Allison joined Ballast Research in January of 2019 after completing an internship in Washington D.C. with the United States House of Representatives.

Robert Townley is a developer for National Journal, focusing primarily on the stability and development of National Journal’s in-house content management system, and laying the groundwork for innovative future products and offerings. Prior to joining National Journal, he ran a children’s educational organization in his hometown of New York City. Outside of work, he enjoys photography, classical guitar, and listening to science fiction audiobooks while cleaning the house.

Jesse Chimes is the associate director of digital marketing at National Journal. He helps develop and implement strategies to expand National Journal’s membership base and strengthen its brand positioning. In previous roles, he led marketing strategy for a national healthcare association, managed digital content for a nonprofit founded by Microsoft, and produced a major market talk show for CBS Radio.

Jesse grew up just outside of Washington, D.C., graduated from American University in the District, and has no immediate plans to see what other cities actually look like.

Chloe is the associate director of marketing and events at National Journal. Prior to joining National Journal, she was a copywriter at Experian’s internal creative agency in New York City and worked in marketing in Nantucket, MA.

After growing up in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, Chloe attended the University of Virginia where she received a Bachelor of Arts in American studies and government.

Padget Satterwhite is an associate with National Journal's events team. Padget graduated from Wofford College in May 2018 where she was an English major and business minor with a concentration in digital media studies. Prior to working for National Journal, Padget worked as a congressional intern, as well as an intern for the Charleston Wine + Food Festival. Originally from Columbia, South Carolina she currently resides in Washington, D.C.