James Carville

James Carville
Carville in 2011
Personal details
Born
Chester James Carville Jr.

(1944-10-25) October 25, 1944 (age 79)
Fort Benning, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
(m. 1993)
Children2
Residence(s)New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
EducationLouisiana State University (BS, JD)
Alma materAscension Catholic High School
NicknameRagin' Cajun
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1966–1968
RankCorporal

Chester James Carville Jr. (born October 25, 1944) is an American political consultant, author, and occasional actor who has strategized for candidates for public office in the United States and in at least 23 nations abroad.[1] A Democrat, he is a pundit in U.S. elections who appears frequently on cable news programs, podcasts, and public speeches.

Nicknamed the "Ragin' Cajun",[2] Carville gained national attention for his work as a lead strategist in Bill Clinton's winning 1992 presidential campaign.[3] Carville also had a principal role crafting strategy for three unsuccessful Democratic Party presidential contenders, including Massachusetts Senator John Kerry in 2004, New York Senator Hillary Clinton in 2008, and Colorado Senator Michael Bennet in 2020.

He is married to longtime Republican political consultant Mary Matalin.

  1. ^ "Legendary Political Consultant and Alumnus James Carville Returns to LSU to Join Manship School Faculty". LSU Media Center. September 26, 2017. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  2. ^ "James Carville joins Fox News". Politico. February 6, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  3. ^ "David Axelrod calls Newt Gingrich 'the godfather of gridlock'". PolitiFact. Retrieved 2012-09-05.