Charlie Cook

Harpswell

Political Analyst at NBC News

Political Analyst at National Journal

Founder and Contributor at The Cook Political Report

Non-partisan political analyst. Founder and Contributor to The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, political analyst for National Journal and NBC News.

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Articles

'Do something': How Tim Kaine has found a way to slow Trump's agenda (with the help of a few Republicans)

1 week ago | nationaljournal.com | Savannah Behrmann |Charlie Cook |Kirk Bado

Tim Kaine no longer wears his Senate member lapel pin to work. Instead, the Democrat has been sporting one with Virginia’s seal, which he said serves as a daily, physical reminder to be “on guard against tyranny.”“It's a woman emphasizing virtue, standing atop a monarch who's been knocked over and his crown has fallen off. [It's] the only state that has a motto that, instead of being a positive celebration, is more of a warning or rebuke,” Kaine said.
Could Republicans Blow It Again?

1 week ago | cookpolitical.com | Charlie Cook

While Democrats’ odds of taking back the Senate are long, an announcement Monday afternoon should remind us why we can’t dismiss the possibility entirely. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s declaration that he would not challenge freshman Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff next year means more than the GOP not having its strongest horse.
Trump wants more AI in schools. This senator helped create the blueprint.

2 weeks ago | nationaljournal.com | Savannah Behrmann |Charlie Cook |Philip Athey |Erin Durkin

Sen. Jon Husted wants Washington to take a lesson from his home state and share it with the rest of the country: Make AI available to every school child in America. But the Ohio Republican isn’t encouraging more AI in schools just to help with the lesson plans. He argues it’s crucial to ensure the future of America’s global competitiveness. Less than four months on the job, Ohio’s former lieutenant governor has emerged as one of Capitol Hill’s biggest champions of AI.
A Unified Theory of Economic Attitudes

2 weeks ago | cookpolitical.com | Charlie Cook

For both psephologists and everyday, armchair students of polls, the period leading into a new president’s 100th day in office is akin to Thanksgiving, with a veritable feast of polls that range across the quality spectrum. Looking through them all, the best argument that President Trump’s backers can point to is the complete solidarity of fellow Republicans: Just when it seemed that his numbers couldn’t go any higher among the party faithful, they did.
Projecting the ‘First 100 Days’ Polls

3 weeks ago | cookpolitical.com | Charlie Cook

Expect a torrent of new polls coming out over the next week in advance of President Trump’s 100th day in office next Wednesday. Most are likely to present numbers that should cause heartburn for party strategists and operatives. The partisan spin will be predictable: Republicans will point to the Democratic Party’s favorability ratings being so badly underwater as to almost be in Titanic territory.
Projecting the 'first 100 days' polls

3 weeks ago | nationaljournal.com | Natalie Jackson |Nicholas Anastacio |Nicholas Anastácio |Charlie Cook

Expect a torrent of new polls coming out over the next week in advance of President Trump’s 100th day in office next Wednesday. Most are likely to present numbers that should cause heartburn for party strategists and operatives. The partisan spin will be predictable: Republicans will point to the Democratic Party’s favorability ratings being so badly underwater as to almost be in Titanic territory.
Dems Play Defense, but Republicans Still Have the Downside Risk

1 month ago | cookpolitical.com | Charlie Cook

Although the November 2026 midterm elections are a full 19 months away, the turbulence in the economy leads us to wonder whether President Trump will be a liability for the Republican Party in defending their Senate and House majorities, or if he will not be a determinative factor at all. During Trump’s first term, his highest Gallup Poll approval rating was 49 percent, with a low of 34 percent.
The one lever that can still move partisans

1 month ago | nationaljournal.com | Charlie Cook

Economic anxiety—encompassing inflation, the stock market, declining retirement-account balances—now seems to be at a once-a-generation level. President Trump’s stewardship of the economy, particularly his tariff policies, could hardly be more important as we look to the midterm elections.
The One Lever That Can Still Move Partisans

1 month ago | cookpolitical.com | Charlie Cook

Economic anxiety—encompassing inflation, the stock market, declining retirement-account balances—now seems to be at a once-a-generation level. President Trump’s stewardship of the economy, particularly his tariff policies, could hardly be more important as we look to the midterm elections.
Remembering Sen. Bennett Johnston

1 month ago | nationaljournal.com | Charlie Cook

Nearly everyone in and around politics has a story about who or what got them involved. Perhaps it was working on a campaign, on Capitol Hill, or at a state capitol. No matter where it was, it usually involves someone giving a young person an opportunity that changes the trajectory of their life. In fact, one of the better pieces of advice for young people is the importance of identifying role models, getting to know them, and soaking up as much knowledge from them as possible.