Julie Banderas

Early life and education Banderas is the daughter of Fabiola Rodriguez and Howard Dexter Bidwell (1930–2010). Her mother is an immigrant from Colombia; Banderas has a sister and four half siblings from her father's first marriage.

Career Banderas began her career at WLVI-TV in Boston. She went on to serve as a local news anchorwoman for WHSV-TV in Harrisonburg, Virginia; WBRE-TV in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; WFSB-TV in Hartford, Connecticut and WNYW in New York City.

She joined Fox News in March 2005 as a general-assignment reporter.

In 2008, she replaced Laurie Dhue as the anchor for Fox Report Weekend. In 2010, she took maternity leave with Harris Faulkner assuming her responsibilities. She returned to Fox News from leave near the end of 2010 and was reassigned to the position of general news correspondent.

In June 2006, she gained international media attention for an on-air clash with Shirley Phelps-Roper, former spokeswoman for the Westboro Baptist Church, about which she later stated, "These people should be arrested, and I understand the right to protest, but when you disgrace not only our fallen soldiers, but when you disgrace innocent young children, I swear. Lock 'em up. Throw away the key. Give 'em the death penalty. I think it's disgusting."

Personal life Banderas' ex-husband Andrew J. Sansone, a member of the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity and founding president of both Old Rock Media and Big Apple Channel, proposed marriage to her with a message-in-a-bottle that he pretended to discover on the beach while clam digging on Long Island Sound. She announced their engagement during an episode of America's Election Headquarters on September 21, 2008. They wed at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church on August 29, 2009. They have three children and reside in New York City.

In December 2022, Banderas announced on her Twitter account that she and Sansone had separated. On February 9, 2023, Banderas announced on Fox's Gutfeld! that she was getting a divorce.