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Articles by

Mel Leonor Barclay

Politics Reporter

Mel Leonor Barclay is a political reporter. She has a decade of experience covering government and elections, from tiny South Florida localities to Congress. Most recently, Mel was a Virginia politics reporter at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and previously covered federal policy at POLITICO. Mel is an immigrant of the Dominican Republic and native Spanish speaker.

My work is free to consume and free to republish because of contributions from readers like you. A donation of $19 goes a long way toward sustaining our nonprofit newsroom.

Contact [email protected]

Latest from Mel Leonor

How New Mexico child care workers got the state to invest in their industry

The advocacy and grassroots campaigning by the state’s predominantly Latina workforce could offer a roadmap for workers and officials in other states looking to craft and pass solutions to the child care crisis.

Mel Leonor Barclay · January 25, 2023
The first post-Roe March for Life showed anti-abortion activists are far from done

Anti-abortion activists celebrated the end of Roe last year. Ahead of its anniversary, they’re setting their sights on federal restrictions.

Mel Leonor Barclay · January 20, 2023
All-women slate will lead Congress’ efforts to keep the government funded

Sens. Patty Murray and Susan Collins and Reps. Kay Granger and Rosa DeLauro will lead the House and Senate appropriations panels.

Mel Leonor Barclay · January 11, 2023
A ‘born alive’ measure is one of the House GOP’s priorities. Here’s what it would actually do.

The measure is one of a number of pieces of anti-abortion legislation that the House GOP has promised swift votes on.

Mel Leonor Barclay, Shefali Luthra · January 6, 2023
Democratic women who made history in 2018 are stepping into leadership in 2022

A number of women from the class of 2018 are moving into increasingly powerful leadership positions and poised to exert more influence than ever before on the future of their party.

Grace Panetta, Mel Leonor Barclay · January 3, 2023
'A whole new perspective': Jennifer McClellan could become first Black woman to represent Virginia in U.S. House

The win in a February special election would represent a stunning first for the southern state and a boon for the ranks of Black women in the next Congress.

Mel Leonor Barclay · December 22, 2022
10 years after Sandy Hook, Moms Demand Action volunteers are turning activism into political power

Almost 300 Moms Demand Action volunteers ran for office this year. More than half will bring their gun control demands to the halls of power as elected officials.

Mel Leonor Barclay · December 14, 2022
Warnock projected to win Georgia Senate runoff, giving Democrats 51 seats

The party should be able to more easily deliver on the promise of a more diverse judiciary and executive branch. Plus, the nation’s first woman vice president won’t have to hang around Washington as much.

Mel Leonor Barclay · December 6, 2022
Millions of families face fertility challenges. A bipartisan House caucus aims to expand access to treatments.

The Democrat and Republican founders will try to find common ground on reproductive health policy amid concerns that GOP abortion policies will spill over into fertility treatment.

Mel Leonor Barclay · December 1, 2022
Using campaign funds for child care is legal — but Herschel Walker is using it as an attack

Republicans have tried to make Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock’s campaign expenses an issue, and advocates worry this could discourage parents of young children from running for office.

Mel Leonor Barclay · November 22, 2022