National Press Club

Here are the 2026 'Press vs. Pols' Spelling Bee participants

Cecily S. Martin

June 04, 2026

Get ready for the National Press Club's much-loved "Press vs. Politicians" Spelling Bee on Wednesday, June 10, at 7 p.m. in the Club's Ballroom.

Tickets are required. Click here to register.

Once described by the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call as "one of Washington's most beloved nerdfests," the event pits members of Congress against the reporters who cover them in a night of friendly competition. 

According to tradition, participants include members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, along with journalists from print and broadcast, whether Club members or not. The winner will take home the coveted "Press vs. Politicians" trophy, along with bragging rights.

Our competition this year includes: 

  • Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois
  • Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio
  • Rep. Kevin Kiley of California
  • Rep. Hillary J. Scholten of Michigan
  • Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia
  • Alex Clearfield, deputy team lead, litigation, at Bloomberg Industry Group 
  • Rachel S. Cohen, defense reporter at Federal News Network 
  • Katie Vogel, politics and D.C. editor at The Associated Press 
  • Angela Greiling Keane, senior editor, politics, at CNBC.

And the pronouncer will be Brian Sietsema, the Scripps National Spelling Bee head associate pronouncer. 

The bee is open to all -- and it might even be an exercise in civic engagement for Club members to invite the public to see how journalists and politicians, being actual people, not straw beings to be ridiculed when they speak inconvenient truths, can work side by side, even in friendly competition.

The first similar event was held in 1913, with newly elected President Woodrow Wilson in the audience for the inaugural showdown, which was won by members of the House and Senate. The spelling bee was reinstated on its 100th anniversary in 2013 and has become a Washington tradition since. 

Scripps National Spelling Bee also provides the words and judges. 

Proceeds from the competition evening support the Club's nonprofit affiliate, the National Press Club Journalism Institute.