Kathleen Matthews

Kathleen Matthews has worked in the nation’s capital for more than 40 years, first as an award- winning television journalist, then as a communications leader for the world’s largest hotel company, and most recently as a Democratic political activist. In 2016 she ran for Congress in Maryland’s 8th District and was elected chairwoman of the Maryland Democratic Party for a two year term in 2017. She serves on MDP’s Finance Council, is an Elector in the 2020 Presidential Election, and serves on multiple non-profit boards, including Emerge Maryland.

During her career as executive vice-president for communications and public affairs at Marriott, Matthews was vice-chair of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and chaired the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council for the travel industry. Committed to diversity and the environment, she co-chaired Marriott’s Global Green Council and served on the company’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Council.

Prior to her career at Marriott, she was an award winning news anchor and reporter at the ABC-TV affiliate in Washington, DC for 25 years, and hosted the nationally syndicated “Working Woman” television show. Matthews has been awarded nine local Emmys, the Human Rights Campaign’s Straight Ally Award, 2016 Pride Hero Award, and Washingtonian of the Year. She has served on the boards of Girl Scouts, Catholic Charities, Black Student Fund, Shakespeare Theatre, Ford’s Theater, Round House Theatre, Suited for Change and Emerge Maryland.

Kathleen is a 1975 graduate of Stanford University, and a 2004 Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School at Harvard University. She and her husband Chris Matthews have three grown children.