Karen Tumulty

Washington, D.C.

Associate editor and columnist covering national politics

Education: University of Texas at Austin, bachelor of journalism; Harvard Business School, masters in business administration

Karen Tumulty is an associate editor and columnist for The Post. In her previous role as a national political correspondent for the newspaper, she received the Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting. She joined The Post in 2010 from Time magazine, where she had held the same title. During her more than 15 years at Time, Tumulty wrote or co-wrote more than three dozen cover stories. She also held positions with Time as congressional correspondent and White House correspondent. Before joining Time in 1994, Tumulty spent 14 years at the Los Angeles Times, where she covered a wide vari
Latest from Karen Tumulty

Democrat Adam Frisch learned from his Colorado losses. The party should, too.

The candidate who nearly defeated Lauren Boebert has a plan for rebuilding a Democratic coalition.

December 1, 2024
Democrat Adam Frisch on Capitol Hill on Nov. 13, 2022. (Elizabeth Frantz for The Washington Post)

Why voters rejected ranked-choice voting

A better way of conducting our elections stumbled this year.

November 27, 2024
An election worker goes over a ranked-choice voting explanation card at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in the Soho neighborhood of New York on June 14, 2021. (Mary Altaffer/AP, File)

Can these Capitol Hill roommates lead Democrats out of the wilderness?

Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill are strong contenders to be the next governors of Virginia and New Jersey.

November 22, 2024

The Senate must stand up against Trump’s outrageous nominations

If the Gaetz nomination is some kind of clay pigeon on Trump’s part, what’s his calculation?

November 14, 2024
Matt Gaetz on Capitol Hill in November 2023. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Do Republicans hate civil servants? I answered your questions.

Karen’s live chat with readers starts at 12 p.m. ET on Thursday. Submit your questions now.

November 14, 2024

Trump’s ‘January Seventh Test’ of loyalty

Donald Trump is building his new administration. Downplaying the insurrection will be a litmus test.

November 12, 2024
Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Florida) speaks during a rally for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) in Miami November 2022. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP/Getty Images)

Trump’s first major decision was a good one

Susie Wiles will be a capable chief of staff. Yet she faces a stiffer task than getting him elected.

November 8, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped campaign manager Susie Wiles to be his chief of staff when he takes office in January. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

‘Invisible’ older women speak up at the ballot box

Older women buoyed optimism in Kamala Harris in the final days of the campaign.

November 5, 2024
Women voters at a polling location in Beltsville, Maryland, on Tuesday. (Graeme Sloan for The Washington Post)

How furious is the Harris campaign at Biden? I answered your questions.

Karen’s live chat with readers started at 12 p.m. ET on Thursday. Read the transcript.

October 31, 2024

Take all this garbage out to the curb

Two comments have created a dumpster fire of partisan outrage this week.

October 30, 2024
(Michelle Gustafson for The Washington Post)