If you are a fan of political commentary and journalism, you might have come across the names of Matthew Dowd and Maureen Dowd. Both are prominent figures in the media, with Matthew being a former chief strategist for George W. Bush and a current political analyst for ABC News, and Maureen being a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times. But are they related by blood or marriage? The answer is no.
Who is Matthew Dowd?
Matthew Dowd was born on May 29, 1961, in Detroit, Michigan, to an Irish Catholic family. He grew up as the third of 11 children, with his father working as an auto executive and his mother as an elementary school teacher. He developed an interest in politics at an early age, and volunteered for various campaigns of both Democrats and Republicans. He graduated from Cardinal Newman College in St. Louis, Missouri, and began his political career as a Democrat, working for Senator Lloyd Bentsen and Representative Dick Gephardt, among others.
In 1999, he switched parties and became a Republican, joining the Bush-Cheney campaign as a chief strategist in 2004. He helped Bush win re-election against John Kerry, but later became disillusioned with the president’s handling of the Iraq War, the Hurricane Katrina response, and other issues. He left the Republican Party in 2007 and became an independent, criticizing Bush and his administration in various media outlets.
In 2017, he joined ABC News as a political analyst and contributor, offering his insights on various topics such as the Trump presidency, the 2020 election, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also hosts a podcast called “One Nation” with former Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile. On September 29, 2021, he announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor of Texas as a Democrat, challenging the incumbent Republican Dan Patrick. However, he dropped out of the race on December 7, 2021, citing personal reasons.
Who is Maureen Dowd?
Maureen Dowd was born on January 14, 1952, in Washington, D.C., to an Irish Catholic family. She was the youngest of five children, with her father working as a police inspector and her mother as a homemaker. She graduated from Immaculata High School in 1969 and from the Catholic University of America in 1973 with a degree in English. She started her journalism career in 1974 as a dictationist for the Washington Star, where she later became a sports columnist, metropolitan reporter, and feature writer.
She joined The New York Times in 1983 as a metropolitan reporter and became a correspondent in the Washington bureau in 1986. She covered various topics such as the Reagan administration, the Gulf War, and the Clinton presidency. In 1995, she became a columnist on the op-ed page of The New York Times, replacing Anna Quindlen. She is known for her witty and provocative style of writing, often using sarcasm, humor, and pop culture references to critique politicians and celebrities.
She won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary in 1999 for her series of columns on the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. She has also written several books, including “Bushworld: Enter at Your Own Risk” (2004), “Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide” (2005), “The Year of Voting Dangerously: The Derangement of American Politics” (2016), and “The Siblings Are Alright: America’s Most Famous Brothers and Sisters Tell Their Stories” (2021). She is also a frequent guest on various TV shows such as “Meet the Press”, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, and “Real Time with Bill Maher”.
Are They Related?
Despite sharing the same surname and Irish heritage, Matthew Dowd and Maureen Dowd are not related by blood or marriage. They have never met each other in person, although they have exchanged emails occasionally. According to Wikipedia, they are both descendants of Irish immigrants who settled in different parts of the United States in the 19th century.
Matthew’s paternal grandfather was John Joseph Dowd (1878-1958), who was born in County Clare , Ireland , and immigrated to Detroit , Michigan , in 1898. He married Mary Agnes O’Brien (1880-1962), who was also born in County Clare , Ireland , and immigrated to Detroit , Michigan , in 1899. They had eight children , including Matthew’s father , Michael Joseph Dowd (1915-2005).
Maureen’s paternal grandfather was James Joseph Dowd (1886-1962), who was born in County Limerick , Ireland , and immigrated to Washington , D.C., in 1907. He married Margaret Mary Meenehan (1890-1975), who was born in County Tyrone , Ireland , and immigrated to Washington , D.C., in 1908. They had five children , including Maureen’s father , Michael Patrick Dowd (1918-1979).
Therefore, Matthew and Maureen are not siblings, cousins, or in-laws. They are simply two prominent journalists who happen to have the same last name and a common ancestry.
Conclusion
Matthew Dowd and Maureen Dowd are both well-known and respected figures in the media, with different political views and backgrounds. They are not related by blood or marriage, but they share a surname and an Irish heritage. They have never met each other in person, but they have communicated via email occasionally. They are both descendants of Irish immigrants who settled in different parts of the United States in the 19th century.
