Kristen Welker is a seasoned political journalist who graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in American history. She began her career in local news, working for ABC affiliates in Redding, California, and Providence, Rhode Island. In 2005, she joined NBC’s Philadelphia station, WCAU, where she served as a reporter and weekend anchor before moving to the network level.

In 2010, Welker joined NBC News as a correspondent based in Burbank, California, and was promoted to White House correspondent just one year later. Throughout her tenure, she traveled extensively with the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, earning a reputation for her tenacious questioning and objective reporting. She gained national acclaim in 2020 for her highly praised moderation of the final presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

Welker transitioned to a major hosting role in 2020 as the co-anchor of Weekend Today alongside Peter Alexander. In September 2023, she officially succeeded Chuck Todd as the 13th moderator of Meet the Press. As of early 2026, she continues to lead the program, which remains a top-ranked Sunday public affairs show, providing critical interviews and analysis during the current political cycle.

Kristen Welker is married to marketing executive John Hughes, and the couple has two children, Margot and John Zachary, both born via surrogate. She has been open about her journey with infertility to help destigmatize the experience for other families. Welker is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and remains one of the most influential figures in American political media.