Mark Z. Barabak is a political columnist for the Los Angeles Times, focusing on California and the West. He has covered campaigns and elections in 49 of the 50 states, including a dozen presidential contests and scores of mayoral, legislative, gubernatorial and congressional races. He also reported from the White House and Capitol Hill during the George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations.
Latest From This Author
Harris being the logical alternative to Biden doesn’t make her a consensus favorite. Her failed 2020 campaign worries some. There are also questions whether her race and gender help or hurt.
July 21, 2024
More a Trump tribute than political convening, the Republican National Convention closed out Thursday with an hourlong speech from The Don full of lies, ramblings and ego.
July 19, 2024
The historically Black neighborhood of Lindsay Heights is only few miles away from the Republican National Convention. But the vitriol and partisan politics of the presidential race aren’t what’s on the mind of its residents.
July 19, 2024
J.D. Vance introduced himself to America. Donald Trump Jr. vented at the Republican convention, breaking with the gentler tone the party has tried to present in prime time.
July 18, 2024
Republicans claim to be the party of law and order. But there’s been scant acknowledgement of Trump’s felony conviction and no mention of Jan. 6.
July 17, 2024
Trump’s selection of Vance as his running mate, invocations of God and an unaccustomed attack on ‘corporate elites’ highlight a GOP convention opener that mostly avoids the most incendiary rhetoric.
July 16, 2024
Republicans and Democrats alike have called for a kinder, gentler campaign in the wake of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. But will they really tone it down? And more importantly, should they?
July 15, 2024
The proliferation of guns and incendiary political rhetoric made the shooting at a Trump rally seemingly just a matter of time. Will it change our politics in any way?
July 15, 2024
Is Joe Biden the Democrats’ best hope of beating Donald Trump, or would Vice President Kamala Harris be better? Two Times columnists differ on how to handle the party’s troubles.
July 12, 2024
Odds have improved for a Republican trifecta — winning the White House and both congressional chambers — since Biden’s calamitous debate performance.
July 10, 2024