Charlie Mahtesian

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

Charlie Mahtesian is POLITICO’s senior politics editor. He oversees the Nightly newsletter, and writes and edits for POLITICO magazine. Prior to joining the magazine, he directed POLITICO’s election coverage from 2008 through 2012, and from 2015 to 2022. He also wrote a blog on campaigns and elections and co-hosted the Nerdcast, POLITICO’s podcast on the White House and politics. In between, he spent two years at NPR, where he served as politics editor and deputy Washington desk chief.

2 weeks ago | portside.org | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

There were two special House elections in Florida Tuesday, both in comfortably Republican districts where Democrats typically don’t have a prayer. It was clear going in that Democrats were poised to overperform in each of them — a result of grassroots rage toward Trump and the party’s frequent advantage in special and off-year elections. The Democratic nominees in both districts indeed ran better than expected — far better than in 2024 — but in the end, the GOP held both seats.

3 weeks ago | politico.com | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

In a test of the mood in the wake of Musk’s tenure atop DOGE, persuasive evidence emerged in Florida that the tech mogul has become a political liability. Elon Musk speaks at a town hall, March 30, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. | Jeffrey Phelps/AP Charlie Mahtesian is a senior politics editor at POLITICO. From the time the Donald Trump-Elon Musk governing partnership took shape, it’s had an expiration date attached to it.

1 month ago | politico.com | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks at a press conference following a policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on March 11, 2025 in Washington. | Win McNamee/Getty Images BITTER MEDICINE — There’s talk of a primary challenge. There are demands for him to step down as party leader. He’s been forced to postpone a book tour that was scheduled for this week.

1 month ago | politico.com | Charles Mahtesian |Charlie Mahtesian

The Senate minority leader has a history of delivering bitter medicine when the party most needs it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks at a press conference following a policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on March 11, 2025 in Washington. | Win McNamee/Getty Images Charlie Mahtesian is a senior politics editor at POLITICO. There’s talk of a primary challenge. There are demands for him to step down as party leader.