Peter Alexander Bio, Age, Wife, Children, MS NOW Career & Net Worth

Who is Peter Alexander? | Biography

Peter Alexander is an American journalist and television anchor known for presidential reporting and national news coverage. His biography includes more than two decades reporting at NBC News and a subsequent move to MS NOW. He currently hosts State of Play with Peter Alexander and serves as the network’s chief national reporter. Previously, he worked as NBC’s chief White House correspondent and co-anchored the Saturday edition of TODAY.

Born on July 29, 1976, in Oakland, California, Alexander graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School in 1998. He developed his reporting career at local television stations before joining NBC News as a correspondent in 2004. His early assignments included international disasters, conflict, and American breaking news. Later, he followed Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign before joining the White House reporting team. His Washington work covered Democratic and Republican administrations.

Alexander became a Saturday TODAY co-anchor in October 2018, combining that assignment with national political reporting from Washington. In 2021, NBC named him a co-chief White House correspondent alongside Kristen Welker. His assignments included the pandemic, presidential transitions, and major interviews. Additionally, his professional honors include Emmy and Edward R. Murrow recognition. In 2025, he received a Walter Cronkite Award for political journalism, adding to earlier recognition from his journalism school.

In March 2026, Alexander left NBC after describing the demands of travel and his desire for more family time. He subsequently joined MS NOW, where State of Play debuted on August 10, 2026. The Washington-based weekday program covers political and national developments. Meanwhile, he also handles breaking news responsibilities for the network. Alexander is married to broadcaster Alison Starling, and they have two daughters together, Ava and Emma.

Peter Alexander Age | How Old is Peter Alexander?

Peter Alexander is 50 years old as of October 26, 2026. He was born on July 29, 1976, in Oakland, California. He reached his 50th birthday in July 2026 and turns 51 on July 29, 2027.

Peter Alexander Height | How Tall is Peter Alexander?

Peter Alexander’s height is not reliably confirmed. Authoritative professional profiles do not establish a supported measurement in feet and inches or centimeters.

Peter Alexander Ethnicity

Peter Alexander has publicly documented Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. In 2013, WJLA published a report by his wife, Alison Starling, about their ancestry testing. The report described his background as Ashkenazi Jewish, with roots in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. This documented family background differs from his American nationality.

Peter Alexander Education

Peter Alexander graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. The university identifies him with the alumni designation BSJ98. In 2021, Medill inducted him into its Hall of Achievement. That recognition honors his professional record; it does not represent an additional academic degree. He joined a group of alumni recognized for substantial contributions across journalism and other fields.

Peter Alexander Religion

Peter Alexander identifies as Jewish. In a 2018 interview with Fatherly, he described celebrating Shabbat with his daughters. Their family traditions included lighting candles and reciting blessings. He also explained that Alison Starling is not Jewish but supports those traditions. These comments establish his publicly expressed religious identity and family practices.

Peter Alexander Wife | Is Peter Alexander Married?

Peter Alexander is married to Alison Starling, a television journalist known for her work at Washington’s WJLA. They married on April 21, 2012, at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Their rooftop ceremony overlooked the United States Capitol. The couple first met while reporting in Seattle in 2002 and reconnected in 2010. Alexander later proposed near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Their wedding included tables named after meaningful cities and food reflecting Seattle, Paris, and Washington. They have since raised two daughters together.

Peter Alexander Children

Peter Alexander and Alison Starling have two daughters, Ava and Emma. Their full names are Ava Starling Alexander and Emma Pink Alexander. Alexander explained that Ava’s middle name preserves her mother’s surname. Meanwhile, Emma’s middle name honors his mother’s family name, Pink. In interviews, he has described reading, storytelling, and spending individual time with his daughters. When announcing his NBC departure in 2026, he emphasized wanting more time with them. He connected that decision with frequent overnight travel and years of weekend commuting.

Peter Alexander Family | Parents, Siblings, and Early Life

Peter Alexander grew up in Oakland, California, in a Jewish family. His parents are David Alexander and Terry Pink. His sister Rebecca Alexander works as a psychotherapist and has publicly discussed living with Usher syndrome. Another sister, Lauren, has supported Rebecca’s athletic fundraising efforts. Alexander has frequently shared Rebecca’s experiences through television coverage. In October 2026, he highlighted her planned Alcatraz fundraising swim, with Lauren accompanying her. His family coverage has addressed both their personal relationship and Rebecca’s advocacy for people experiencing hearing and vision loss.

Peter Alexander Career | From Local News to MS NOW

Peter Alexander began his television career at local stations before moving into national news. His early employers included WKYT in Lexington, KHQ in Spokane, and KCPQ in Seattle. At KCPQ, he worked as a lead reporter and substitute evening anchor. He interviewed presidential candidates during the 2000 campaign, building early interviewing experience with national political figures. In 2004, he joined NBC News.

Alexander subsequently reported on international events and major American breaking stories. He covered Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign in 2012, then moved onto the White House beat. Later, he combined Washington reporting with Saturday TODAY anchoring. NBC named him a co-chief White House correspondent in 2021. After leaving NBC in March 2026, he joined MS NOW. His current responsibilities combine a weekday program, national reporting, and breaking news anchoring.

Peter Alexander White House Reporting | Presidents and Campaigns

Peter Alexander joined NBC’s White House reporting team in December 2012, following his coverage of Mitt Romney’s campaign. His reporting subsequently covered Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. The assignment involved presidential travel, administration policy, press briefings, and political accountability. His reporting appeared across NBC’s television and digital platforms, reaching audiences beyond individual White House broadcasts.

In January 2021, NBC elevated Alexander and Kristen Welker to co-chief White House correspondents. Their responsibilities included coverage of the incoming Biden administration. Alexander also covered presidential impeachments, Supreme Court confirmations, and the January 6 attack’s aftermath. His work frequently required direct questions to presidents and senior officials. He continued covering Washington before his 2026 move into MS NOW’s expanded newsroom.

Peter Alexander Saturday TODAY | Weekend Anchoring

Peter Alexander became a Saturday TODAY co-anchor in October 2018. He combined the New York studio assignment with his Washington reporting responsibilities. His co-anchors over that period included Kristen Welker and Laura Jarrett. The role involved both major news coverage and the wider range of interviews associated with morning television. Meanwhile, travel between Washington and New York became a recurring part of his schedule.

On March 28, 2026, Alexander announced his departure during the Saturday broadcast. He explained that professional travel had kept him away for more than 80 nights during the previous seven months. He also described missing more than 200 Friday nights at home over several years. His announcement emphasized family time and the opportunity for a new professional challenge.

Peter Alexander MS NOW Show | State of Play

Peter Alexander hosts State of Play weekdays at 11 a.m. Eastern Time on MS NOW. The program premiered on August 10, 2026, with Washington, D.C., as its base. His broader appointment includes chief national reporter and breaking news anchor. Sandi Cohen serves as the program’s executive producer.

The show combines original reporting, interviews, and analysis of political and national developments. Its first weeks featured guests including Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey. The network also highlighted an interview with United States Cattlemen’s Association President Justin Tupper. In its August audience report, MS NOW said the program averaged 580,000 total viewers. That figure describes its early audience, rather than a permanent viewership level.

Peter Alexander Reporting | International Assignments and Breaking News

Peter Alexander’s reporting has covered wars, natural disasters, and major American breaking stories. After joining NBC, he reported on Iraq’s 2005 election and the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami. His assignments also included coverage surrounding Osama bin Laden’s death in Pakistan. Other reporting took him to Afghanistan, Israel, Gaza, Laos, Mexico, and the Galápagos Islands.

Closer to home, he anchored live coverage of the Miracle on the Hudson and the Virginia Tech shooting. Those assignments required presenting developing information during fast-moving events. His professional biography also documents reporting from the Arctic’s Northwest Passage. Together, these assignments show the range of field coverage preceding and accompanying his Washington work. They include environmental reporting alongside politics, conflict, and emergency news.

Peter Alexander Interviews | Doug Emhoff and Presidential Questions

Peter Alexander conducted Doug Emhoff’s first one-on-one television interview as second gentleman in 2021. NBC scheduled the interview across TODAY, NBC Nightly News, MSNBC, and NBC News NOW. Their conversation took place in Chicago during the administration’s vaccination outreach. Topics included Emhoff’s role and Kamala Harris’s historic vice presidency.

Alexander also drew widespread attention during a March 20, 2020, White House coronavirus briefing. He asked Donald Trump what he would say to Americans frightened by the pandemic. Trump responded by attacking his reporting. Later, Mike Pence answered a similar question with reassurance and a call for vigilance. The exchange became a widely discussed moment in coverage of the administration’s pandemic communications.

Peter Alexander Awards | Cronkite and Medill Recognition

Peter Alexander received a 2025 Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism. The award announcement recognized his entry “Holding the Powerful Accountable.” The USC Annenberg awards honor political reporting and analysis on television and digital media. His recognition came during his NBC tenure, before he joined MS NOW.

Additionally, his professional profiles identify him as an Emmy Award-winning journalist and Edward R. Murrow Award recipient. Northwestern’s Medill School inducted him into its Hall of Achievement in 2021. These honors recognize different parts of his professional record. The Medill distinction comes from his university, while the Cronkite recognition specifically concerns political journalism.

Peter Alexander Salary

Peter Alexander’s current MS NOW salary is not publicly disclosed. Available appointment announcements do not establish annual compensation, bonuses, or other contract terms.

Peter Alexander Net Worth 2026

No reliable public estimate establishes Peter Alexander’s net worth in 2026. His broadcasting and professional appearances document employment, rather than total wealth. Public profiles do not disclose enough financial information to calculate his assets and liabilities.

Biography Summary