POLITICO names Will Steakin political correspondent

Will Steakin

Announcement from Editorial Director of Politics and Polling, Jonathan Lai, Executive Editor, Washington, Julia Marsh, and Senior Executive Editor, North America, Alex Burns:

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We are thrilled to announce that Will Steakin will be joining POLITICO as a political correspondent.

Will comes aboard at a pivotal moment in American politics, as Republicans and Democrats alike battle over the future of their parties heading into the midterms, 2028 and beyond. His reporting will help track the emerging voices, coalitions and power struggles reshaping the political landscape — from fissures inside the MAGA movement and Republican Party to the insurgent left flank of the Democratic Party in the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York City.

We were especially impressed by Will’s ability to deliver coverage beyond the traditional two-party framework — including his focus on the growing influence of online personalities, influencers and emerging media figures on politics and policy. As voices outside traditional party structures increasingly shape political discourse — and in some cases seek office themselves — Will will help POLITICO deliver authoritative journalism that deepens our understanding of who and what is driving these shifts, both inside and outside Washington and across the political spectrum heading into 2028.

Beyond these areas of focus, we expect Will to break must-read stories, building on his record of delivering exclusive reporting. He will further strengthen the team’s mandate to produce high-impact scoops and sophisticated political journalism.

Will’s deep sourcing and experience complement the politics team’s already strong coverage this year, as our reporters continue to dominate redistricting coverage, drive conversation on the future of the Democratic and Republican parties and help readers understand the changing electoral map through The POLITICO Poll.

Will joins POLITICO with more than a decade of reporting experience. Most recently, he served as ABC News’ senior Washington reporter, where he helped lead coverage of the Trump administration, Congress and national elections.

Earlier at ABC News, Will worked as an investigative reporter covering the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the Capitol, congressional investigations and Donald Trump’s 2024 transition. During that time, he broke a series of stories about investigations into Rep. Matt Gaetz leading up to Gaetz’s withdrawal as Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Will also served as an ABC News’ embed covering Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign.

Will graduated from Columbia University, where he studied politics. He lives in Virginia with his wife and a dog named Henry.

Will starts June 2 and will report to Jonathan Lai. Please join us in welcoming Will to POLITICO.