He later interned in the office of Democratic Senator Herb Kohl in 1994, which led to his decision to become a political journalist.

While at Roll Call, VandeHei broke the story of House Speaker-elect Bob Livingston's affairs in 1998.

[citation needed] After a stint as a national political reporter for The Wall Street Journal in 2000, VandeHei joined The Washington Post.

[6] In November 2024, VandeHei delivered a spirited defense of free and fearless journalism at the National Press Club's Fourth Estate Awards ceremony.

Accepting the Lifetime Achievement award alongside co-founder Mike Allen, VandeHei emphasized the importance of a robust and independent press.

"[7] He is married to Autumn Hanna VandeHei, a former staffer for House Republican Leader Tom DeLay of Texas who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislation (Human Services) in the Presidency of George W. Bush.