Marriott executive Kathleen Matthews, wife of "Hardball" host Chris, planning to run for Congress

Businesswoman and former reporter eyes bid for Chris Van Hollen's seat

Published March 5, 2015 3:05PM (EST)

 Kathleen Matthews   (Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital/YouTube screenshot)
Kathleen Matthews (Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital/YouTube screenshot)

Maryland businesswoman Kathleen Matthews -- known to viewers of MSNBC's "Hardball" as the wife of host Chris Matthews -- plans to run for Rep. Chris Van Hollen's (D-MD) congressional seat, Politico's Mike Allen reported Thursday morning.

A former news anchor for Washington's WJLA, Matthews is now executive vice president and chief global-communications and public affairs officer for the Marriott International hotel chain. With Van Hollen leaving the House to seek retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski's seat next year, Matthews is eyeing Van Hollen's suburban DC seat. Allen reported that she is conferring with local Democrats and interviewing possible campaign consultants.

Van Hollen's seat is expected to remain in Democratic hands. President Obama won the district over Mitt Romney with 62 percent of the vote in 2012, and amid an otherwise difficult election for Maryland Democrats, Van Hollen secured re-election last year with 60 percent support.


By Luke Brinker

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