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United States Paul Begala has transitioned from being a chief strategist for presidential campaigns to a respected political commentator and university instructor.
Political consulting team formed with James Carville, gaining national prominence through various campaign victories, including the 1992 Clinton-Gore campaign.
Paul Begala is a political analyst and contributor for CNN, where he is part of the political team that won an Emmy for its coverage of the 2006 elections and a Peabody Award. He frequently appears on "The Situation Room" and co-hosted "Crossfire" from 2002 to 2005.
Co-hosted the political debate program "Equal Time" on MSNBC from 1999 to 2000.
Served as a consultant for the mortgage lender Freddie Mac, an arrangement that concluded in September 2008.
Paul Begala is a Scholar at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics and an instructor in the UVA Department of Politics, teaching a seminar on political communication.
An affiliated professor of public policy for over a decade.
Served as the Carl E. Sanders Distinguished Political Leadership Scholar.
Provided funding for Evan's interview with Paul Begala on PBS.
Provided funding for Evan's interview with Paul Begala on PBS.
Provided funding for Evan's interview with Paul Begala on PBS.
Member of the board of directors for the organization that promotes U.S.-Israel cooperation.
Publisher for several of Paul Begala's books, including 'Is Our Children Learning?', 'It's Still the Economy, Stupid', 'You're Fired', and co-authored works like 'Buck Up, Suck Up...and Come Back When You Foul Up' and 'Take It Back'.
Paul Edward Begala, born on May 12, 1961, in New Jersey and raised in Missouri City, Texas, has built a career as a prominent American political consultant and commentator. He earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. Early in his career, Begala was involved in several significant political campaigns alongside his business partner, James Carville. These included the 1991 Pennsylvania U.S. Senate victory for Harris Wofford, Frank Lautenberg’s 1988 re-election campaign for U.S. Senator in New Jersey, and a number of gubernatorial victories for figures such as Robert Casey in Pennsylvania (1986), Wallace G. Wilkinson in Kentucky (1987), and Zell Miller in Georgia (1990).
Begala gained national recognition as a chief strategist for the 1992 Clinton-Gore campaign, which saw Bill Clinton become the first Democrat to win the White House in 12 years, carrying 33 states. Following this, he served as Counselor to the President in the Clinton White House from August 1997 to March 1999, where he was responsible for coordinating policy, politics, and communications. His media presence grew through co-hosting political debate programs such as “Equal Time” on MSNBC from 1999 to 2000, and “Crossfire” on CNN from 2002 to 2005. He has authored or co-authored six political books, addressing topics ranging from presidential analyses to campaign strategies.
Throughout his career, Begala has maintained a consistent role in political commentary, regularly appearing as a Democratic pundit on CNN. He has also held academic positions, serving as a Scholar at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics and an instructor in the UVA Department of Politics, teaching political communication. Previously, he was an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and the Carl E. Sanders Distinguished Political Leadership Scholar at the University of Georgia School of Law. In 2020, he was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus award from The University of Texas at Austin, recognizing his contributions to politics and public discourse.
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