Julie Banderas has long been a recognizable presence on Fox News, known for her confident delivery and outspoken commentary on some of the country’s most heated political debates.
Her career path — from a young journalist climbing through local television markets to becoming a national news anchor — reflects a classic American media success story.
But beyond the studio lights and polished broadcasts, the Fox News host has also experienced deeply personal challenges. From family loss to a turbulent marriage and years of public criticism online, Banderas’ life has included chapters far more difficult than viewers might realize.
Her career placed her in the national spotlight, but the path behind that success was marked by personal heartbreak and resilience.
The loss of her father during a life-changing year
Julie Banderas — who also uses the name Julie Bidwell — studied broadcast journalism at Emerson College in Boston before beginning her career in television. According to Fox News, her first job came in 1997 at WHSV TV-3 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where she worked as a morning and noon anchor and producer before later becoming the evening anchor for the station’s 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. broadcasts.
She later worked in television markets across Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New York City before joining Fox News Channel in 2005.
“I was hired at Fox News Channel in 2005 and the rest is history,” she told Fox News.
Years later, however, a deeply emotional moment changed her life outside of the newsroom.
In 2010, only six months after welcoming her first child, Banderas lost her father, Howard D. Bidwell. His death came just one week before Thanksgiving.
“He was my hero,” Banderas told Fox News while reflecting on her father’s influence on her life.
She shared that he often reminded her never to accept mediocrity and helped shape her determination and work ethic. Banderas later said she continues to live by the lessons both of her parents instilled in her and hopes her children will one day carry those same values forward.
The television anchor also spoke publicly about her father again the following year on Fox News while honoring what would have been his birthday. According to her remarks, he died after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder associated with reduced dopamine levels in the brain.
“I speak for all of us when I say, Dad, I hope you’re watching from a better place. We love and miss you dearly,” she said, addressing him on behalf of herself and her siblings.
A family she wishes could have been even bigger
Despite the painful loss early in her journey as a parent, Banderas has described motherhood as the most meaningful part of her life.
She is the mother of three children — two daughters and a son — though she has openly said she sometimes wishes she had started building her family earlier.
In an interview with Fox News, Banderas acknowledged that she did not initially picture herself becoming a mother when she was younger.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I know what I was missing,” she said.
Looking back now, she believes her life may have taken a slightly different path if she had embraced parenthood earlier.
“If I had started having children at a younger age, I would’ve had more. Maybe four, maybe five, who knows?” she said.
“Having children has been the greatest joy of my life and I wish I would’ve had more time to have more.”
A turbulent marriage that ended publicly
Another difficult chapter unfolded in her personal life years later.
Banderas’ marriage to Andrew Sansone ended in 2023. During the split, she accused him of threatening her with a knife during a heated argument at their home.
According to the Daily Mail, Sansone was charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon following the incident. The outlet later reported that he was ultimately found not guilty.
The relationship had experienced turbulence long before the divorce became public.
In a 2009 joint interview with The New York Times, Banderas acknowledged that their relationship had gone through several breakups even before they married.
“We call this round four, because we got together, we broke up, we got back together, we broke up,” she said at the time.
Decades of online criticism in the spotlight
Working as a political commentator on a highly visible network has also brought years of scrutiny.
Banderas addressed the reality of online criticism as early as 2006 during an appearance on “The Big Story Primetime Edition.”
“…My God, if I sued every person that said a bad thing about me on the internet, I would be a billionaire,” she said, according to MediaMatters.
Despite the criticism, she indicated that she had learned to accept the attention that comes with a public career.
“We take it. In fact, you know what? Bring it on. It’s good — it’s good publicity,” she said.
Over the years she has also responded directly to critics on social media. In one instance in 2015, after a user criticized her for posting in Spanish, Banderas replied that she was in Colombia and communicating with a Colombian airline.
She has also defended colleagues publicly. In 2019, after former President Donald Trump criticized Fox News journalists John Roberts and Gillian Turner on Twitter, Banderas responded that attacking reporters online could have consequences.
“By going on Twitter and insulting two of our journalists @realDonaldTrump is putting a target on their backs,” she wrote. “Bullying journalists is not Presidential. Period.”
Through career highs, family loss, public criticism, and a difficult divorce, Banderas’ story reflects a life shaped not only by television success but also by resilience behind the scenes.
