The Rhodes Cook Letter

The Rhodes Cook Letter
ISSN: 1558-4291

Download a recent issue

What people are saying about The Rhodes Cook Letter:

"If you read just three people analyzing American politics today, do yourself a favor and make certain that Rhodes Cook is one of them. Rhodes is one of the three wisest Americans now analyzing this country's politics. As somebody who writes on politics, I want my reader to have one of two reactions: 1) Gee, I never knew that or 2) Gee, I never thought of it that way! Every time I read Rhodes Cook I have both reactions--with some envy--Gee, I never knew that and Gee, I never thought of it that way."
~ Mark Shields, Analyst on PBS's NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, panelist on "Inside Washington," Syndicated Columnist, Creators Syndicate.

"Rhodes Cook's Newsletter is a true gem, an indispensable tool for scholars and teachers interested in American elections. Cook's encyclopedic knowledge of electoral history and his analytical insights allow him to present analyses that give readers a unique lens from which to view current and upcoming elections. The tables and charts he provides have already found their way into both published articles and classroom lectures and earned Cook the gratitude of scholars throughout the nation."
~ L. Sandy Maisel, William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Government, Colby College.

"(Rhodes Cook is) one of the nation's finest analysts. The Rhodes Cook Letter is la crème de la crème of political newsletters. There is a rich stew of data and analysis for the use of faculty, as well as undergraduate and graduate students taking courses such as Political Parties, Campaigns and Elections, Electoral Behavior, and the like. Every college and university library should have it available for political science faculty and students."
~ Larry J. Sabato, Director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia and Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics.

"Rhodes Cook's newsletter is indispensable for those who want to know what is really happening in American politics."
~ John Kenneth White, Professor of Politics, Catholic University of America.

The Rhodes Cook Letter

The Rhodes Cook Letter tracks election results for president, Congress and the nation's governorships--in terms of primaries, general elections, and even special elections when they occur. But each issue goes beyond the basics to provide a distinctive analysis of the American political scene - with texts, maps and a variety of other colorful graphics that seek to put current elections into a broader historical context. A sample graphic appears directly below.

The 2008 election was one of the most distinctive and historic in American history. There were record voter turnouts for both the presidential primaries and the general election, culminating with the expansion of Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress as well as the election of the first African-American president in the nation's history.

Since then, "The Rhodes Cook Letter" has sought to analyze the current political scene from a number of different angles. Topics have ranged from a unique look at last fall's voting through the prism of the nation's counties to a glimpse at the nation's highly engaged and at times, agitated, electorate.

Looking ahead, "The Rhodes Cook Letter" will increasingly shift its focus to the next big round of voting, the midterm elections of 2010, all the while noting evolving trends and historical comparisons.

The newsletter is published on a bimonthly basis, with each issue tending to run between 15 and 25 pages.

Please click the icon in the upper left corner and take a look at a sample issue of what we hope you will find to be an intriguing and student-friendly publication.

Rhodes

Rhodes Cook, a political reporter and columnist with Congressional Quarterly for more than 20 years, wrote about presidential, congressional and gubernatorial elections in particular, and voting trends in general. Now as an independent political analyst, he still pursues his interest in the American electoral process. Since 1996, he has authored "America Votes," a biennial compilation of nationwide election results published by CQ Press, and since 2000, The Rhodes Cook Letter.

Read additional information about Rhodes.