Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Christopher Cadelago

89. Chris Cadelago

Journalism has had a tough go of it for a while now, but you wouldn’t know it from the meteoric rise of Politico’s Christopher Cadelago, who has steadily become one of the most influential members of the Capitol Press Corps. As a reporter, his stories are must-reads thanks to his deep well of sources and his penchant for big scoops. For all that, his work in maneuvering Politico’s ascension around the Capitol may be even more significant. Since returning to Sacramento after a working for several years in Washington, D.C., Cadelago has played a major role in elevating Politico’s presence here, making key hires to bolster their impressive reporting team. The result: Politico, and particularly the California Playbook, is essential daily reading alongside the Capitol Morning Report and Capitol Weekly. (Ha, just seeing if you were paying attention.) His contributions were recognized by his superiors earlier this year when he was named Politico’s Editorial Director for California. If KCRA’s Ashley Zavala (No. 92 on this list) is the Capitol’s “Oh Shit” reporter, then Cadelago is its “Oh, Wow” guy.

Updated August 26, 2025