Joel Pollak

Joel Barry Pollak (born April 25, 1977) is an American political commentator and author. He serves as senior-editor-at-large for the Breitbart News Network. In 2010 he was the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress from Illinois's 9th congressional district, losing to incumbent Democrat Jan Schakowsky with 31% of the vote.

Personal life

Pollak was born in Johannesburg, South Africa but his parents emigrated to the United States shortly after his birth. He became a U.S. citizen in 1987. He grew up in the Chicago suburbs, principally in Skokie. He attended Solomon Schechter Day School and Niles North High School, where he was the class valedictorian in 1995.

Pollak attended Harvard College and graduated magna cum laude in 1999 with a joint degree in Social Studies and Environmental Science & Public Policy (ESPP). He earned a master’s degree in Jewish Studies from the University of Cape Town in 2006. He then enrolled at Harvard Law School. He married Julia Inge Pollak (née Bertelsmann) in December 2009. They have a daughter named Maya (b. February 1, 2012).