- Ben Pershing
Ben Pershing has covered Congress for The Washington Post since January 2008, previously authoring the “Capitol Briefing” blog and anchoring “The Political Browser” aggregation page. He currently focuses on covering the Congressional delegations from Maryland, Virginia and the District. Before joining the Post, he spent 10 years as a reporter and editor at the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call. A Los Angeles native, Pershing is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.
- Antiabortion group plans to use Virginia races as ‘template’ for 2014 midterm efforts
- Va. GOP settles on Cuccinelli, Obenshain and Jackson for November ballot
- At Va. convention, Jindal says GOP should ‘get over ourselves’ and move forward
- Cuccinelli unveils energy policy, as liberal think tank criticizes his tax plan
- As Virginia moves to the middle, Republicans face difficult choices
- Online sales tax bill, key to Va. transportation funding, puts Cuccinelli in tough spot
- Terry McAuliffe campaigns with Mark Warner, cites former governor as role model
- New poll shows Cuccinelli, McAuliffe essentially tied in Va. governor’s race
- McAuliffe, Cuccinelli begin unveiling policy proposals in Va. governor’s race
- McAuliffe has 69% of blacks’ support, but it might not be enough
- Poll: Cuccinelli has early lead over McAuliffe in Virginia governor’s race
- Terry McAuliffe proposes local tax reforms
- McAuliffe’s first ad focuses on family, jobs
- Conservative activist Ron Meyer confirms that he will challenge Gerry Connolly
- Trent Franks again offers bill to ban late-term abortions in District
- Will D.C. voters get their way on budget autonomy?
- Howard Dean-backed group wades into NoVa legislative races
- Amid disclosure debate, Terry McAuliffe proposes tighter gift laws for Va. officials
- Disparate donors fuel early fundraising in Virginia governor’s contest
- Virginia GOP calls for McAuliffe to release tax returns
- Shad Planking will bring together fish, beer and candidates — but few Democrats
- 7 seek Republican nomination for Virginia lieutenant governor ahead of May convention
- Decades-long effort to exempt D.C. residents from U.S. income tax still simmers
- Terry McAuliffe raises $5.1M for quarter, including $100K from Bill Clinton
- Maryland Congress members endorse Prince George’s for FBI headquarters site
- Republicans say Greentech resignation hurts McAuliffe campaign message
- Building campaigns, McAuliffe cleans house while Cuccinelli keeps old hands
- Do local lawmakers think the Redskins should lose their trademark? No comment.
- Donna Edwards, staff will take 2 percent sequester pay cut
- Pete Snyder and his ‘Pig Rig’ launch tour for Lt. Gov campaign
- In subtle shift, Kaine backs ‘marriage’ for same-sex couples
- Terry McAuliffe certified as Democratic nominee for Va. governor
- Poll: Warner has wide lead over McDonnell in hypothetical 2014 matchup
- Lawmakers offer bill to ban ‘Redskins’ trademark
- Report: Fairfax needs more poll workers, better technology to avoid election lines
- Ex-Rep. Artur Davis backs Ron Meyer in race against Rep. Gerry Connolly
- Local officials join election task force to prepare for the worst
- At CPAC, Cuccinelli bashes McAuliffe, vows to remain a ‘straight shooter’
- Conservative activist Ron Meyer eyes challenge to Gerry Connolly
- Warner chafes at Senate’s limitations as sequester hits Virginia
- 2016 Watch: Tea party group airs ad attacking McDonnell, in Iowa
- Kaine: Bolling would be ‘formidable’ independent candidate for Va. governor
- Norton to donate pay during sequester to help federal workers
- In first Senate speech, Kaine says Congress should follow example of Va. deal
- Virginia looks to recover military clout after loss of veteran senators
- Poll: Marylanders fear sequester will hit their pocketbooks
- In Virginia and Washington, Republicans back tax hikes
- McDonnell, McAuliffe congratulate each other after transportation bill passes
- Offices of Rigell, Forbes evacuated because of suspicious substance in letters
- General Assembly toughens penalties for straw gun purchasers
- Van Hollen meets with imprisoned Md. contractor Alan Gross in Cuba
- Norton ‘very disappointed’ by omission of D.C. issues from State of the Union
- Washington area lawmakers’ reaction to State of the Union splits along party lines
- Early reactors
- Democrats urge sales of Cuccinelli book
- Amid dire predictions, Sen. Mark Warner says defense industry shares blame for sequester
- Warner: Defense industry shares blame for sequester
- With gun bill, Scott Rigell again willing to strike his own path
- Hoyer doesn’t expect ever to face Van Hollen in leadership race
- U.S. Senate Democrats will hear from Obama, O’Malley in Annapolis
- Cuccinelli suggests Justice Scalia isn’t conservative enough
- Cuccinelli seeks bipartisan backing to ease ballot access rules in Virginia
- Va. Senate approves bill to ban government discrimination against gays
- Bill to study ‘alternate currency’ for Va. inches forward
- D.C. statehood bill introduced in the Senate
- Connolly to be top Democrat on federal ‘uber-subcommittee’
- Issa wary of D.C. budget referendum, still plans to move ahead with legislation
- Another survey shows dead heat in Va. governor’s race
- In post-Newtown debate, Rep. Wolf is right in the middle
- McAuliffe raises $1.1M in less than a month for Virginia governor campaign
- Eleanor Holmes Norton again offers bill to make D.C. the 51st state
- Poll: Virginians back armed guards in schools, tougher gun laws
- Poll: Cuccinelli and McAuliffe neck-and-neck
- Poll: Cuccinelli, McAuliffe neck-and-neck in Va. governor’s race
- Kaine, Delaney take office at crucial moment on Capitol Hill
- Fiscal cliff vote divides Va., Md. lawmakers
- Va. tea parties yet to score statewide victory
- Former Md. congressional candidate charged with illegal voting
- Virginia’s split personality on gun control
- Mikulski in line to chair powerful Appropriations panel
- McDonnell, O’Malley take opposing sides in response to Newtown shootings
- Va. agency head apologizes to McAuliffe’s company for ‘inappropriate’ e-mail
- Virginia lawmakers split on election reform plans
- Rep. James Moran’s son pleads guilty to assaulting girlfriend
- Kaine gets seats on Armed Services, Foreign Relations panels
- John Delaney names top Hill aides
- Sen. Cardin looks ahead to busy second term
- Issa questions D.C. budget autonomy referendum
- Congress members push for FBI move to Northern Virginia
- Tom Perriello says he won't run for Va. governor
- Tom Perriello decides against Va. governor bid
- Cardin, Mikulski call for release of Alan Gross from Cuban prison
- Connolly falls short paying party dues
- Tom Perriello silent as speculation swirls on gubernatorial run
- Bill Bolling decides not to seek GOP nomination for VA governor
- Norton continues push for D.C. flag to be displayed at military ceremonies
- Hank the Cat wins political fame, food, but few votes
- For Maryland’s John Delaney, a tricky transition from business to Congress awaits
- Mark Warner won’t run for Virginia governor, will stay in Senate
- Allen, Kaine advisers look back at hard-fought Virginia Senate race
- Pelosi’s decision freezes Maryland’s Steny Hoyer, Chris Van Hollen in place
- McAuliffe spreads the word he’s running for governor
- Congress wants study on D.C. building height limits
- Obama, Kaine wins again put Va. ‘in the purple zone’
- Analysis: How Tim Kaine won the Va. Senate race
- Kaine wins Virginia Senate race
- Allen, Kaine spend final Sunday courting voters
- Campaigns make final push in Md., Va.
- Allen guarantees $500K loan to Va. Senate campaign
- George Allen’s Senate record a mixed bag
- Kaine makes ‘closing argument’ as campaigns debate momentum
- Poll: Kaine maintains lead over Allen as Senate race nears climax
- Elections board asks Cuccinelli to investigate Patrick Moran video
- Kaine keeps outraising Allen as outside spending tops $40 million
- Police open investigation into alleged Moran campaign offense
- Cuccinelli will investigate GOP worker accused of trashing voter forms
- Sen. Jim Webb mum on Obama’s ‘bayonets’ remark
- George Allen makes direct appeal on defense cuts
- Virginia Dems want federal probe on voter fraud allegations
- Update: Va. congressmen ask for federal probe into vote fraud allegations
- New Allen ad focuses on Kaine’s DNC tenure
- Allen, McDonnell jump on Obama’s ‘bayonets’ comment
- Allen, Kaine continue pursuit of vets’ vote
- Tim Kaine ads call George Allen ‘wrong’ for Virginia women
- Man with firm under contract to Va. GOP charged with voter registration fraud
- Allen, Kaine clash in final debate
- Kaine ad focuses on Allen’s Senate record
- Kaine courts Northern Virginia women, Allen focuses on defense cuts
- John Delaney maintains fundraising edge over Roscoe Bartlett
- New poll: President Obama, Tim Kaine up big among Virginia Latinos
- In Senate race, Northern Virginia seniors look beyond Medicare, Social Security
- New polls paint mixed picture of Va. Senate race
- Crossroads hits Tim Kaine again on defense cuts
- Va. Senate debate: George Allen, Tim Kaine face off in Richmond
- Dueling Va. ads: Kaine teams with Warner, Allen attacks on defense cuts
- In Va. Senate race, anti-Kaine message focuses more on taxes, less on Obama
- Tim Kaine maintains fundraising edge over George Allen
- On campaign trail, Webb picks his spots
- Bartlett criticizes foe Delaney for not voting in two elections
- Kaine buys $3 million more in airtime as Crossroads continues attack
- D.C. residents could vote on budget autonomy proposal
- Tim Kaine radio ad focuses on ‘women’s issues’
- Va. Senate contest could pivot on defense issues
- New Virginia poll shows tighter races for White House, Senate
- Kaine ad hits Allen on Medicare, Social Security
- George Allen gets help from ‘Rhonda’ in new ad
- Modern dirty tricks arrive in Virginia Senate race, via text
- Tim Kaine tax comments focus of new George Allen ad, anonymous texts
- Virgil Goode will stay on Va. ballot after Cuccinelli finishes probe
- Bartlett aide, state GOP head Alex Mooney drops candidacy to comply with ethics rules
- Post Poll: Tim Kaine opens first lead over George Allen in Virginia Senate race
- Kaine unveils ads showing him as centrist, as liberal group hits Allen
- D.C.’s Frederick Douglass statue headed to Capitol
- George Allen back on the air for final campaign sprint
- Crossroads hits Kaine in new ads, Kaine criticizes timing
- Md. Democrats will run write-in candidate to replace Wendy Rosen
- Frederick Douglass statue approved by House to represent D.C. in Capitol
- Maryland Democrat quits congressional race amid vote fraud allegations
- Delaney goes on the air to rebut Bartlett ad
- Bartlett apologizes for invoking Holocaust at town hall discussion
- Roscoe Bartlett apologizes for Holocaust remark made as he blasted federal student loans
- O’Malley, Kaine stand in support of Obama in Charlotte
- In DNC speech, Kaine praises Obama as a ‘tough leader’
- Roscoe Bartlett on the air with ad attacking John Delaney’s business record
- Ex-congressman Virgil Goode makes presidential ballot in Virginia
- Kaine’s leadership of DNC could have repercussions in his Senate campaign
- Latest Kaine ad focuses on education, training
- At George Allen event in Loudoun, Republican National Convention feels far away
- Anne Holton cuts radio ad for Kaine campaign
- Bartlett targeted by Democrats over views on abortion, rape
- From N.Va. to southern Virginia, Allen and Kaine tailor economic messages
- Kaine buys another $1 million worth of air time, aims for Latino voters
- The survivalist: Roscoe Bartlett prepares for a threatened future
- Liberal groups launch ads hitting George Allen’s Senate record
- Three new ads on the air attacking Tim Kaine
- Paul Ryan choice for VP could prove tricky for George Allen
- Ex-Sen. John Warner won’t appear at Democratic convention
- Fraternal Order of Police backs George Allen, credit unions endorse Tim Kaine
- Crossroads spot attacks Kaine’s statehouse record
- Wolf backs Virginia control of MWAA board
- Paul Hirschbiel airs education ad in campaign against Scott Rigell
- Tim Kaine, George Allen compete to be Ron Wyden’s BFF
- George Allen, Tim Kaine to square off in three more debates
- Rep. Laura Richardson broke federal law, obstructed probe, House ethics panel finds
- Ethics panel says Rep. Laura Richardson broke federal law, obstructed probe
- D.C. late-term abortion ban fails in the House
- D.C. late-term abortion ban fails in the House
- Obama to appear at Loudoun County High School
- Kaine outlines defense-cut plan, as Republicans continue barrage
- Bartlett foe John Delaney heading to Israel
- House to vote on D.C. late-term abortion ban Tuesday
- John Thune to open Springfield office for Romney campaign
- New U.S. Chamber ad hits Tim Kaine’s record as governor
- Rep. Roscoe Bartlett ad calls him ‘different,’ ‘independent’
- U.S. Chamber endorses George Allen as debate continues over defense cuts
- Virgil Goode submits 14,000 signatures for ballot, with help from Independent Greens
- 7 things to watch for as Allen, Kaine square off in Virginia’s U.S. Senate debate
- Congress considers lifting height limits on District buildings
- Rep. Darrell Issa proposes hearing on D.C. commuter tax
- House panel approves ban on D.C. abortions after 20 weeks
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