If you’ve spent more than five minutes watching cable news over the last thirty years, you’ve definitely seen them. He’s the "Ragin’ Cajun" with the sharp tongue and the unapologetic Democratic loyalty. She’s the steely, brilliant Republican strategist who worked for the Bushes and Dick Cheney. Together, they are James Carville and Mary Matalin.
They’re basically the original "odd couple" of American politics.
Because the country is so divided right now, people constantly wonder: is Carville still married? It seems almost impossible in 2026. We live in an era where people end friendships over a Facebook post or a stray tweet. How could a man who helped put Bill Clinton in the White House stay married to a woman who worked tirelessly to keep him out?
The Short Answer: Yes, They Are Very Much Together
Let’s just get the "is Carville still married" question out of the way first. Yes. They are.
In fact, they’ve been married since Thanksgiving Day in 1993. That’s over 32 years of marriage. They didn't just survive the Clinton years; they survived the Bush years, the Obama years, the Trump era, and everything that followed. Honestly, it’s a bit of a miracle when you look at the divorce rates in D.C., let alone for two people who spend their days trying to defeat each other’s ideologies.
They don't just "coexist" either. They seem to actually like each other.
A few years back, they made a big move. They left the D.C. "Beltway" bubble and headed south to New Orleans. James is a Louisiana native, and he finally convinced Mary to trade the Potomac for the Mississippi. They even sold their famous Uptown mansion a couple of years ago to downsize—well, "downsize" by their standards—proving they’re still very much a unit, planning their next chapters together in the Big Easy.
Why Everyone Thinks They’ve Split Up
The reason people keep asking "is Carville still married" is usually because they see James or Mary on TV being, well, themselves.
James Carville doesn't hold back. He’s been vocal lately about the state of the Democratic party, sounding alarms and occasionally ruffling feathers within his own camp. Meanwhile, Mary Matalin actually left the Republican party in 2016 to register as a Libertarian. She didn't move left, though—she just found her own path.
When you see them debating on a panel, it looks like a fight. It is a fight. But they’ve mastered a skill that most of us have forgotten: the ability to disagree without being disagreeable.
The Secret Sauce of Their Marriage
How do they do it? They’ve been pretty open about their "ground rules" over the years.
- No Politics at the Dinner Table: They’ve famously stated that they don't bring the office home. When they’re in their New Orleans house, they’re "Mom and Dad" to their two daughters, Matty and Emerson.
- Shared Values (The Non-Political Kind): While they disagree on marginal tax rates, they agree on things like family, faith, and their love for New Orleans.
- A Sense of Humor: If you can’t laugh at the absurdity of a Democrat and a Republican sharing a bed during a recount, you’re not going to make it.
The 1992 Campaign: Where It All Started
To really understand why the "is Carville still married" question is so fascinating, you have to go back to 1992. It was a movie-worthy setup.
James was running Bill Clinton’s campaign. Mary was the deputy campaign manager for George H.W. Bush. They were literally trying to destroy each other’s professional lives every single day. The documentary The War Room captured the intensity of that time.
It wasn't easy. Mary has admitted in interviews that she was devastated when Bush lost. James, meanwhile, was at the height of his power. Navigating that power dynamic—one person winning while the person they love loses—is enough to tank most relationships.
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Instead, they got married a year later.
Life in New Orleans
Today, the couple is deeply embedded in Louisiana life. James teaches at LSU and is a fixture at Tulane events. Mary sits on boards for the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and other local institutions.
They aren't just "political celebrities" there; they’re neighbors.
In early 2023, they made headlines when they auctioned off a significant portion of their furniture and art from their Palmer Avenue home. This led to a brief flurry of rumors. "Are they splitting?" "Are they leaving town?"
Nope. They were just moving to a different house in the city. As James famously put it, he’s never leaving New Orleans again unless it's in a pine box. Mary seems to have embraced the culture just as much, often seen supporting local arts and recovery efforts that have continued long after Katrina.
What We Can Learn From Them
The obsession with whether or not they are still married says more about us than it does about them. We find it hard to believe that love can transcend a ballot box.
If you’re looking for a takeaway from the Carville-Matalin saga, it’s probably this: Relationships aren't built on 100% agreement. They’re built on respect. James clearly respects Mary’s intellect, even when he thinks her policy ideas are "loco." Mary clearly loves James’s passion, even when he’s shouting into a microphone on CNN.
They’ve written two books together: All's Fair: Love, War, and Running for President and Love & War: Twenty Years, Three Presidents, Two Daughters and One Louisiana Home. In both, the message is clear. They fight. They argue. They have completely different worldviews.
But they stay.
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Actionable Insights for the Politically Divided
If you're struggling to maintain a relationship with someone on the "other side," here’s the Carville-Matalin playbook:
- Set boundaries. If a certain topic always leads to a screaming match, make it off-limits for Sunday dinner.
- Focus on the person, not the party. Remember why you liked them before you found out who they voted for.
- Find "third spaces." For James and Mary, it's New Orleans and their kids. Find something you both love that has nothing to do with Washington.
- Keep your sense of humor. Politics is serious, but it shouldn't be the end of your joy.
The next time someone asks you "is Carville still married," you can tell them that not only is he married, but he’s also proving that the "United" in United States might still be possible—at least under one roof in New Orleans.
Next Steps to Understand the Carville-Matalin Legacy:
- Watch the 1993 documentary The War Room to see the raw intensity of their relationship’s origin.
- Read their joint memoir Love & War for a deeper look at how they managed their family life during the polarized years of the 2000s.
- Check out James Carville’s podcast, Politics War Room, where he occasionally drops anecdotes about his life with Mary and their "divided" household.