Carla Marinucci, senior writer for POLITICO’s California Playbook, has consistently been named one of California’s leading political writers — and for the last two years has also been honored as the state’s top digital influencer in political reporting. Prior to launching the POLITICO California Playbook in 2015, Marinucci was senior political writer for the Hearst flagship San Francisco Chronicle, and before that political editor for the Hearst-owned San Francisco Examiner. She has covered six presidential elections and seven California gubernatorial elections since 1996, including the historic recall with Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2013, she was honored by the Society of Professional Journalists with a lifetime achievement award for her coverage of California politics.