Meryl Kornfield

Washington, D.C.

Reporter

Education: University of Florida, BS in Journalism

Meryl Kornfield is a staff writer on the Politics desk at The Washington Post. She previously worked on the General Assignment and Investigative desks, where she was a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2020 and 2023 for her role in The Post's opioid coverage. Meryl graduated with honors from the University of Florida, where she studied journalism and Latin America. Before moving to D.C., Meryl reported for outlets across Florida, including the Associated Press, the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Palm Beach Post, the Gainesville Sun and UF’s independent student new
Latest from Meryl Kornfield

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abandons plan to seek votes in uncompetitive states

The independent candidate now wants all his supporters to vote for Donald Trump, as he seeks to take his name off red-state ballots and add it to blue-state ballots.

September 5, 2024
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks onstage beside Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump during a campaign event at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Aug. 23, 2024.

    Where independent and third-party candidates are on the ballot

    See which states have them on the ballot, including the seven battleground states most likely to decide the election.

    September 3, 2024

    Army defends Arlington Cemetery staffer ‘pushed aside’ by Trump aides

    The Army said in a statement that the cemetery staffer “acted with professionalism,” and her reputation has been “unfairly attacked” by Trump’s representatives.

    August 29, 2024
    Former president Donald Trump observes a ceremony Monday at the Tomb of the Unknowns inside Arlington National Cemetery.

    Vance defends telling Harris to ‘go to hell’ for nonexistent cemetery criticism

    The GOP vice-presidential candidate said an Arlington cemetery worker pushed aside by a Trump aide does not deserve an apology.

    August 29, 2024
    Republican vice-presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) speaks to attendees at the International Association of Fire Fighters Convention, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Boston.

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he is suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump

    The scion of one of the most famous Democratic families had attracted voters dismayed with a Trump-Biden rematch, but Biden’s exit and Harris’s nomination upended the race.

    August 23, 2024
    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at an event on May 25, 2023, in Indianapolis.

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. moves closer to dropping out and endorsing Trump

    His campaign has announced an address to the nation Friday in Arizona about the path forward for his campaign

    August 21, 2024
    Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Capitol Hill in 2023.

    Progressives once felt spurned at the DNC. Now they’re cheering it.

    After failures to move the party at the top of the ticket, many in the Democrats’ left wing have felt at times as if they are winning the ideological war.

    August 21, 2024
    Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) addresses the crowd on the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

    JD Vance’s plane makes emergency landing after door malfunction

    The plane carrying Vance, a Boeing 737, declared an emergency shortly after it had left the airport in Milwaukee and returned for repairs.

    August 16, 2024
    A plane used by Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio)

    Michigan election officials say Cornel West is disqualified from ballot

    West was denied ballot access over notary issues, Michigan’s director of elections said.

    August 16, 2024
    Cornel West in Los Angeles on July 15, 2023.

    New York judge rules RFK Jr. will not appear on state ballot

    The ruling, if upheld, could lead to challenges in other states where his campaign used an address in New York’s suburbs to gather signatures.

    August 12, 2024
    Supporters of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gather at a rally outside the Supreme Court on March 18.