Dan Balz

Washington, D.C.

Chief correspondent covering national politics, the presidency and Congress Education: University of Illinois, B.S. in communications and M.S. in communications Dan Balz is chief correspondent at The Washington Post. He joined The Post in 1978 and has been involved in political coverage as a reporter or editor throughout his career. Before coming to The Post, he worked at National Journal magazine as a reporter and an editor and at the Philadelphia Inquirer. He is the author of several books, including two bestsellers. He was born in Freeport, Ill., graduated from the University of Illinois and served in the U.S. Army. He is married and has one adult son. He is a regular panelist on PBS’s “Washington Week” and is a frequent guest on the Sunday morning talk shows and other public affairs programs. Honors & Awards:

John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism, 2017
Robin Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting, 2015
White House Correspondents Association's Merriman Smith Award for deadline writing, 2011
Gerald R. Ford Award for Coverage of the Presidency (shared), 2002
American Political Science Association's Carey McWilliams Award, 1999

Latest from Dan Balz

Politics
Analysis

With urgent problems facing him, Biden cannot afford early missteps

He is assembling an experience and trusted team. Can they avoid mistakes of the past?

Nov 28, 2020

Politics
Analysis

A vindictive Trump seeks to undermine Biden’s presidency

Overturning the election was never really possible. Instead he wants his followers, and even some Republican lawmakers, to see Biden as illegitimate.

Nov 21, 2020

Politics
Analysis

Biden changed the electoral map, but can Democrats capitalize in the future?

A shifting Sun Belt alters the electoral calculus, but Democrats’ weakness with White working-class voters could keep some Northern states in GOP hands or up for grabs.

Nov 14, 2020

Politics

Trump threatens more damage on his way out of office, with complicity from the GOP

Claims of fraud, when nothing has been proved, weaken public faith in democracy and undermine President-elect Joe Biden’s ability to prepare to govern.

Nov 11, 2020

Voices from the fight: An oral history of the four-year movement to defeat Donald Trump

Notable figures and ordinary Americans describe their reaction to Trump's victory in 2016 and describe the moments during his presidency that compelled them to speak out and mobilize against him.

Nov 8, 2020

Politics

Biden promises to unite the country. After this election, is it even possible?

The problems he must fix are enormous. The obstacles to bridging the nation’s division are even greater.

Nov 7, 2020

Politics
Analysis

Trump has attacked democracy’s institutions, but never so blatantly as he did overnight

His false claim of victory, cry of “fraud” and threat of legal action strike at the heart of free elections.

Nov 4, 2020

Politics
Analysis

A stomach-churning night of counting leaves the outcome in the balance

Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona are likely to determine the result, but maybe not for days.

Nov 4, 2020

Politics

Post-ABC polls: Biden has slight lead in Pennsylvania; Florida a toss-up

Trump is rated high on the economy but low on coronavirus as case numbers rise.

Nov 1, 2020

Politics
Analysis

Signs may point to a Biden victory, but some Democrats can’t shake memories of 2016

Trump levels baseless claim against doctors; still has a narrow path to victory. Some Democrats fear a repeat of 2016 but Biden sticks to his course.

Oct 31, 2020