Mark Halperin

Mark Evan Halperin (born January 11, 1965) is an American journalist, author, and political commentator known for his insider analysis of U.S. presidential campaigns.

Halperin began his career at ABC News in 1988 as a desk assistant and researcher, advancing to roles including White House reporter and political director from the mid-1990s to early 2000s, during which he oversaw coverage of major elections. He later served as a senior political analyst for Time magazine and contributed to MSNBC's election coverage. Halperin co-authored several bestselling books with John Heilemann, including Game Change (2010), which detailed the 2008 presidential race and was adapted into an Emmy-winning HBO film, and Double Down (2013), chronicling the 2012 election. These works established him as a key chronicler of political strategy and behind-the-scenes dynamics based on extensive sourcing from campaign insiders.

Mark Halperin was born on January 11, 1965, in Bethesda, Maryland, to Morton Halperin, a prominent foreign policy expert and national security official who served in the Johnson, Nixon, and Clinton administrations, and Ina Young. The family, of Jewish heritage, resided in Bethesda, where Halperin attended Walt Whitman High School.