Matthew Dowd has spent decades shaping American politics and analyzing it on television, but in September 2025, the veteran strategist made headlines for a different reason. The longtime consultant and MSNBC contributor was fired after his controversial remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death sparked swift backlash.
Learn more about him below.
Dowd has worked in politics for decades, most famously serving as the chief strategist for George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign. Earlier in his career, he advised Democrats like Dick Gephardt and worked with Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen before switching parties and joining the Republican side.
Dowd’s political journey has been anything but static. He has identified as both a Democrat and a Republican, and in more recent years has called himself an independent. He has openly criticized both major parties, saying he believes leaders on both sides often fail to prioritize ordinary Americans.
In 2021, Dowd entered the race for Texas lieutenant governor as a Democrat, aiming to unseat Republican incumbent Dan Patrick. However, he later dropped out of the race, saying he didn’t want to contribute to a crowded Democratic field and believed a more diverse candidate should take the lead.
“A diverse field is now emerging in the Democratic primary for this office,” Dowd said in a statement at the time. “I do not want to be the one who stands in the way of the greater diversity we need in politics.”
In September 2025, following the shooting death of Kirk, Dowd said on air that Kirk was “one of the most divisive younger figures” and argued that “hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”
