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Charles Mahtesian
Charles Mahtesian is NPR's Politics Editor.
Prior to coming to the network, Mahtesian spent five years as Politico's national politics editor, where he directed its political and campaign coverage and authored a blog on the American political landscape.
He joined Politico after five years as the editor of the National Journal's Almanac of American Politics, the biennial book often referred to as "the bible of American politics."
Before that, he spent eight years as a national correspondent for Governing magazine, where he covered state legislatures, governors and urban politics.
He began his career reporting on elections and congressional redistricting for Congressional Quarterly, where he was also a contributing writer to the books "Politics in America" and "Congressional Districts in the 1990s."
Prior to coming to NPR in his current role, Mahtesian had served as an election night analyst for NPR and was a frequent guest on NPR's All Things Considered and Talk of the Nation; MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, and on FOX News, C-SPAN, CNN and the BBC.
He has written for a variety of newspapers, journals, and magazines including Politico, The Washington Post, The Weekly Standard, National Journal, Congress Daily, Government Executive, and Campaigns and Elections.
He earned his bachelor's degree in politics from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and his law degree from American University.
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Whether it's because of their size, demographic make-up, or the unique role they play, these places will have an outsized role in state — and possibly national — politics this year.
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The end of August heralds the start to the final phase of the 2014 election season. As primaries wrap up and candidates ready themselves for November, NPR's Charlie Mahtesian lays out the political landscape.
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Six weeks after the Mississippi GOP Senate primary, controversy still swirls around the outcome, as defeated challenger Chris McDaniel continues to dispute the election's results.
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Shortly after Rep. Eric Cantor's surprise defeat in the Republican primary, Cantor announced his plans to step down soon from his position as House majority leader. This will leave a void in the GOP leadership, an open spot that's sure to attract plenty of interest.
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One of the biggest political questions of the year will be answered: Can Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell withstand a Tea Party challenge?
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Primaries in Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio serve as the kickoff for an intense two-month stretch of elections. Did we mention former American Idol star Clay Aiken is on the ballot?
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Three states go to the polls Tuesday, starting what will be an eight-week stretch of primaries in the U.S. For a look at the intra-party political landscape, NPR's Charlie Mahtesian has this overview.
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Energy production, military realignment, Hispanic immigration, student enrollment and changing retirement patterns are among the forces driving population gains in America's fastest-growing counties.