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 has appeared on other public affairs prog
Latest from Dan Balz

Biden has a story to tell about the economy. Inflation gets in the way.

Voters repeatedly point to higher prices as a source of their unhappiness, making it hard for President Biden to convince people that the economy is strong

April 13, 2024
President Biden has said that fighting inflation remains a priority for his administration, but the rate of price increases has remained stubbornly high.

The Arizona Supreme Court just upended Trump’s gambit on abortion

On Monday, Trump declined to support a national abortion ban, seeking to neutralize the political issue. A day later, Arizona’s ban gave it new life.

April 9, 2024
Former president Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Green Bay, Wis., on April 2.

No Labels wanted a centrist ticket. Polarization, Trump stood in the way.

The concept of a moderate middle of the electorate has long existed. But worries that a third-party candidate could play spoiler in the election were too hard to overcome.

April 6, 2024
An event at the National Press Club on Jan. 18 sponsored by No Labels. From left, former North Carolina governor Pat McCrory, who was then national co-chair for the group; Margaret White, the group's co-executive director; lawyer Dan Webb, an attorney and volunteer for the group; Benjamin F. Chavis, national co-chair; and former senator Joe Lieberman, who was the group's founding chairman.

Could Biden’s problems with Black voters help Trump win?

Black voters have long been the Democratic Party’s most loyal constituency, but the Trump campaign is trying to make inroads, and the Biden team is worried about turnout.

March 30, 2024
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) introduces former president Donald Trump at a campaign rally in North Charleston, S.C., on Feb. 14.

Biden vs. Trump is both static and unstable. What could change things?

The known unknowns that could shake up the general election include interest rates, immigration, international chaos and a potential health event.

March 23, 2024
Former president Donald Trump, left, and President Biden are set to face off in November's general election.

Biden delivered for nervous Democrats on Thursday. Now they want him to keep it up.

The challenge will be to turn a high point of his presidency into a sustainable reelection campaign strategy.

March 8, 2024
President Biden, with Vice President Harris and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) seated behind him, delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill on March 7 in Washington, D.C. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

Here comes the general election: Long, negative and consequential

In an unpredictable year, the usual presidential campaign metrics will be more difficult to count on.

March 6, 2024
President Biden and former president Donald Trump are on course to confront each other in the general election.

McConnell and Haley fight losing battles against Trump’s ‘America First’ worldview

The shift in foreign policy worries U.S. allies about what a second Trump presidency would mean for them and the world.

March 2, 2024
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) acknowledged the changing politics in his party when he said he would step down from his leadership post.

Speaker Johnson says he has priorities. So why hasn’t he acted on them?

Four months into his speakership, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) is a leader in name only, failing to act on the policies he says are his priorities.

February 17, 2024
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) walks to the House floor at the Capitol on Feb. 15.

Republicans sink an immigration bill; Biden is left with the political problem

The collapse of the bipartisan immigration bill is just the latest chapter in the failure of Congress to address the complex and politically volatile issue. Through multiple administrations, hard-right conservatives have resisted compromise on an issue that neither party alone can solve.

February 10, 2024
Border Patrol agent Sean Coffey, left, looks toward the landscape alongside a fellow agent in Sunland Park, N.M., in June.