Matthew Dowd
Matthew Dowd | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 29, 1961 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Political analyst, consultant, commentator |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Known for | Chief strategist for Bush–Cheney 2004 reelection campaign; political commentator for ABC News |
| Notable work | Applebee's America: How Successful Political, Business and Religious Leaders Connect with the New American Community; A New Way: Embracing the Paradox as We Lead and Serve |
Matthew John Dowd (born May 29, 1961) is an American political analyst and consultant known for his role as chief strategist in the Bush–Cheney 2004 reelection effort. He has also contributed as a political commentator for ABC News. On September 29, 2021, Dowd declared his candidacy for lieutenant governor of Texas representing the Democratic Party, challenging the sitting Dan Patrick, but withdrew from the race on December 7, 2021.
Early life
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Dowd grew up in an Irish Catholic household as the third child among eleven siblings. His father worked as an executive in the automotive industry, while his mother transitioned from teaching elementary school to managing the household.[1] Both of his parents identified as Republicans.[2] He pursued higher education at Cardinal Newman College located in St. Louis, Missouri.[1] Dowd attributes his initial political enthusiasm to witnessing the Watergate Committee hearings in 1973 at age twelve.[3]
Political strategist
Dowd’s political journey started with volunteer work for Representative William Broomfield (R-MI) and Governor Joseph P. Teasdale (D-Mo.) during his college years in St. Louis. He later held staff positions for Representative Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.), Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tx.), and Texas Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock. In 1999, he officially changed his party affiliation to Republican.
In the course of the 2002 midterm elections, Dowd acted as a senior advisor to the Republican National Committee. He played a pivotal role as chief strategist in President George W. Bush’s 2004 campaign for reelection. Reflecting on that election in 2024, Dowd admitted that claims made by Swift Vets and POWs for Truth were largely unfounded and "almost entirely false." Additionally, he provided strategic guidance for Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful 2006 gubernatorial reelection.
2007: Transition from politics to commentary
By 2007, Dowd had grown critical of President Bush’s leadership, particularly regarding the management of the Iraq War, the decision to renominate John Bolton, and the administration’s failure to hold Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld responsible for the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal. His evolving view on Iraq was influenced by concerns over his son's possible military deployment and Bush’s refusal to meet anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan in 2005. He also expressed dissatisfaction with how Bush handled Hurricane Katrina's aftermath. Following his departure from the administration, Dowd became estranged from former adviser Karl Rove.
In December 2007, he joined ABC as a political contributor appearing on programs such as Good Morning America and This Week hosted by George Stephanopoulos.
On December 2, 2010, writing for National Journal, Dowd defended WikiLeaks, condemning bipartisan endorsements of government surveillance justified by counterterrorism efforts.
Dowd is a founding partner of the strategic consulting firm Vianovo and has taught at the University of Texas’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. By 2015, he served as a visiting Fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.
He co-wrote the New York Times bestseller Applebee's America: How Successful Political, Business and Religious Leaders Connect with the New American Community. His book titled A New Way: Embracing the Paradox as We Lead and Serve was released in 2017.
Dowd has publicly criticized former President Trump's Twitter activity as harmful and counterproductive, particularly tweets aimed at North Korea’s leader.
During the initial phase of the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump, Dowd encountered criticism after tweeting that "Elise Stefanik is a perfect example of why just electing someone because they are a woman or a millennial doesn’t necessarily get you the leaders we need." Stefanik condemned the remark as "disgusting" and "sexist." Dowd subsequently apologized and removed the tweet.
2021: Texas Lieutenant Governor Campaign
In September 2021, Dowd declared his intention to run for the position of Lieutenant Governor of Texas representing the Democratic Party. By October, a poll conducted by the University of Texas at Austin indicated he had garnered 13% support among Democratic primary voters. Nevertheless, Dowd withdrew from the race in early December, expressing a wish to encourage more diversity among the candidates.
Personal life
Dowd has entered into marriage twice and is a father to three sons from his first marriage. His second marriage concluded following the tragic loss of one of his twin infant daughters. His oldest son, Daniel, served in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Since 2011, Dowd has been involved in a relationship with Maria Shriver, beginning shortly before her separation from Arnold Schwarzenegger. As of 2024, the couple remains together, although Shriver is reported to have turned down his proposal for marriage.
Bibliography
- Dowd, Matthew J., Ron Fournier, and Doug Sosnik. Applebee's America: How Successful Political, Business, and Religious Leaders Connect With the New American Community. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2006. Includes interviews carried out in Applebee's restaurants.
External links
- Archived documentation of Dowd's 1993 contribution to Senator Lloyd Bentsen's campaign
- Archived biography of Dowd at Vianovo
- FRONTLINE (PBS) interview featuring Matthew Dowd
- Archived edition of Dowd's blog on ABCNews
- (talk show appearances spanning 2004–2017)