From local news to a national spotlight, Chris Stirewalt opens up on his Wheeling upbringing

WHEELING, W.Va. ( WTRF ) – From Wheeling all the way to the television screens of millions of Americans, Chris Stirewalt is a well-known and respected political analyst for NewsNation.

7News spoke with him during an exclusive interview about his Wheeling upbringing, how he got where he is and how he’s preparing for the upcoming election.

“There is not much to be said in life for planning, but there is a lot to be said for being present, working hard, doing the best job you can where you are. And you just have to let the Almighty take care of the rest because there’s no way that I could have planned a career as weird and wonderful and interesting as mine.”

Chris Stirewalt | Political Editor/Anchor The Hill Sunday

Wheeling Native, Linsly graduate and now a political editor and anchor for the fastest growing cable news network in the country, Chris Stirewalt first got involved in the news the summer right after high school, working as a sportswriter for the Wheeling Intelligencer.

“I had not had any plan to be in the news business. But as soon as I walked into that newsroom, I was hooked.”

Chris Stirewalt | Political Editor/Anchor The Hill Sunday

He worked for the Intelligencer during the summer while attending college at Hampden Sydney and for a few months after graduation.

He then worked for the Charleston Daily Mail and the State Journal and made his breakthrough into TV news with West Virginia Media.

Other notable places Stirewalt worked include the Washinton Examiner and Fox News as a political analyst. Now, he is the host of The Hill Sunday for NewsNation – marking a 20-year career as a political editor.

“You can see a trend here. I’ve had the same job since I was 28 years old. I’ve been a political editor for a long time, for 20 years. I fell in love with politics because it is a story about how Americans think and live and are.”

Chris Stirewalt | Political Editor/Anchor The Hill Sunday

During this exclusive interview, Stirewalt discussed some differences between local and national politics he’s noticed during his career.

“Most of the things that people have to decide in their lives [in local politics] are not illogical and they’re not partisan, they’re prudential. Which school will be consolidated, and which one will be expanded? These are prudential choices that people have to make that don’t tend to have a lot to do with which color jersey you wear, whether you are you Republican or a Democrat. But in national politics, everything tends to get reduced down to this red versus blue. It’s a pretty stupid way to try and run a country.”

Chris Stirewalt | Political Editor/Anchor The Hill Sunday

In his time as a political editor/analyst, Stirewalt says he has tried not to “play for a team.”

During The Hill Sunday, he interviews notable political figures and digests the conversation with a panel of other journalists.

“The difference between news and entertainment is sometimes we have to tell people what they don’t want to hear. Telling people hard truths in love is the fundamental work of adult life. And always with the idea that a normal person should not have to think about politics every day, 24 hours a day. That if you come to us and give us an hour of your time, that you can feel caught up, that you can feel like you know what you need to know, and you can get on with real life.”

Chris Stirewalt | Political Editor/Anchor The Hill Sunday

From a small-town journalist to a national television host, Stirewalt says he is forever proud to be from Wheeling, W.Va.

“You carry a special obligation to do a good job and be a credit to your state and hometown. And I have been richly and amply rewarded with the kindness, respect and encouragement of so many in Wheeling. I get the Wheeling feeling frequently. I get to hear from Wheelingites frequently. And that’s a good feeling.”

Chris Stirewalt | Political Editor/Anchor The Hill Sunday

Stirewalt hosts “The Hill Sunday” on NewsNation live every Sunday at 10 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTRF.