Are Brad Todd and Chuck Todd related?

Is Brad Todd related to Chuck Todd related?

Short answer – Brad Todd and Chuck Todd are not related. The speculation about their relationship is primarily due to their shared last name and prominence in their respective fields.

Introduction

There’s something that fascinates us all about two celebrities in the same arena who could—potentially—be related.

Look at how fans lost their minds over Brad Pitt and Barack Obama being cousins (does it still count if you’re ninth cousins?).

Or when Bianca Lawson posted her dad’s wedding photos and Queen Bey turned out to be her step-sister.

Or how Ray J’s cousin, Snoop Dogg, shaded Kim K over the former couple’s tape.

Let’s face it—we love a good familial match.

Fans don’t just get excited about movie star relationships, like that time we found out Stanley Tucci was Emily Blunt’s brother-in-law.

We also find ourselves asking these questions in the political sphere.

Eagle-eyed political pundits could be forgiven, then, for wondering what the link was between NBC political director and commentator Chuck Todd, and Political Campaign leader Brad Todd.

Is Brad Todd related to Chuck Todd?

Are they brothers?

We’re unpacking everything we know about these two powerhouses in the political realm, to give you a definitive answer to that question—and a few others.

Who Is Chuck Todd?

The Origin Story

Chuck Todd was born Charles David Todd in April of 1972.

The Florida native was raised in the Jewish faith and attended Killian Senior High School in Kendall, Miami.

From there, the outgoing Chuck headed to George Washington University to study political science.

It was while Todd was enrolled at college that he became involved with Senator Tom Harken’s 1992 bid for the presidency.

Chuck, who was also working for the National Journal newsletter, The Hotline, covered the campaign—and would continue covering politics for the next three decades.

Chuck lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife Kristian—co-founder of Maverick Strategies and Mail—and the couple’s two children.

He is a supporter of the Miami Hurricanes football team, and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Marymount University.

Why is Chuck Todd famous?

Chuck Todd might be a famous NBC commentator and the political director of one of the most influential networks in the US, but it took a lot of grind for him to get to this point.

Todd paid his dues gaining real world political experience on early Florida campaigns—like that of Tom Harkin.

He also spent his time fine tuning his skills as a political journalist on the Hotline, where he worked as editor-in-chief until his departure in March of 2007.

Todd’s time at The Hotline also saw him co-host a daily show alongside John Mercurio, and appear as a guest on political discussion shows like Hardball with Chris Matthews and Inside Politics.

When did Chuck Todd join NBC?

Todd left The Hotline in 2007 to join NBC News under Tim Russert.

In his new role as NBC News political director, Chuck provided insightful analysis on political current affairs, earning himself a major following and generous accolades from commentators like Rachel Maddow, Lester Holt, and Chris Matthews.

Chuck was also briefly considered to replace Tim Russert on NBC’s Meet the Press, following the iconic host’s death in 2008. The position ultimately went to David Gregory.

Just before Christmas of 2008, NBC announced that Chuck Todd would be taking over the role of NBC News Chief White House Correspondent and Contributing Editor to Meet the Press.

At this stage, Chuck had become so big that even his fans had a nickname: Chuckolytes.

Who Is Brad Todd?

The Origin Story

Brad Todd had set his intentions early on in life—he was always destined to work in writing and politics.

By the time he turned 15, he was already a paid writer, and—in his own words—he “hasn’t shut up since.”

In 1994 he graduated from the University of Missouri at Columbia with a Master of Arts in Journalism.

Throughout college, he had been heavily involved in local body politics, and he would spend the next decade crafting a strong brand.

That brand would become OnMessage Inc. in 2005.

Brad’s consulting firm—founded in partnership with Curt and Wes Anderson—focuses on supporting clients to reach their political goals through research, development, and media.

Being the ultimate spin doctor hasn’t hurt Brad’s chances of success in the political arena, either.

READ MORE: Why did Wendy Rieger use to wear red glasses?

What does Brad Todd do?

In a nutshell, Brad Todd is known for winning political campaigns—and being really good at advertising.

So far, his clients have included five US Senators, four governors, and congressmen that number in the double digits.

Through a combination of strategic messaging, brand management, and think tanks, Todd has led some of the world’s biggest brands and sports teams to success.

Are Brad Todd and Chuck Todd related?

So, are Brad Todd and Chuck Todd related? With two super-successful and driven guys climbing to the top in the same arena, with the same last name, many fans think they must be related. Unfortunately, Brad put the theory to rest when he responded to a tweet asking if he was related to Chuck Todd. His reply: “Nope. No relation.”

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