Jon Ralston
Journalist, Political Commentator and Talk Show Host
Jon Ralston has been covering politics in Nevada for 30 years. He is recognized as the foremost expert in the state. In 2012, he was named one of the Top 50 "Politicos to Watch" by Politico.
He is a contributor to KTNV, the ABC affiliate in Las Vegas. He also has hosted several TV programs, including "Ralston Live" and "Ralston Reports." He is a columnist for the Reno Gazette-Journal twice a week. He also puts out an email newsletter called "Flash" that sets the political agenda for the day, breaks news and contains analysis. He is a contributing editor at Politico Magazine. He also regularly appears on national television, including programs on MSNBC, FOX and PBS. He also has appeared on "Meet the Press."
He is originally from Buffalo, N.Y., and has a B.A. in English from Cornell University and a M.A. in journalism from University of Michigan. He came to Sin City in 1984 as the night police reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, later covering general assignment and county government before becoming a political reporter in 1986.
He wrote for the Las Vegas Review-Journal for 15 years, the last seven as a freelance columnist. In 1999, the Greenspun Media Group purchased his political newsletter The Ralston Report, and he worked for that company, publishing columns in the Las Vegas Sun, until September 2012.
His awards include: Nevada State Press Association's Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year in 1986, Best Columnist of the Year in 1991 and 1992 and Best Non-Staff Columnist in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011. In 2009, he won the Associated Press News Executive Council award for best local column.
He is married and has a son.