Ex-Bush Strategist Matthew Dowd to Run for Lieutenant Governor as Democrat

Matthew Dowd, a former political advisor to Republican President George W. Bush, announced Wednesday that he will run as a Democrat for Texas lieutenant governor.

Dowd branded himself an independent for years before declaring himself a Democrat the day that he entered race for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. 

The onetime chief strategist to Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign is casting his campaign as a fight for “decency” against Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, whom he attacked in his campaign announcement as “cruel,” divisive, “lying,” and lacking in “common sense.”

In a video launching his campaign, Dowd said, “the GOP politicians have failed us.” He attacked Patrick over his response to mass shootings, Texas’ deadly winter blackout, and for downplaying the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Enough is enough. We need more officials who tell the truth, who believe in public services, in common sense with common decency for the common good. … We need to expect more from our politicians,” Dowd says in the ad. “Dan Patrick believes in none of those and that is why I am running for the powerful office of lieutenant governor of this great state.”

Dowd also attacked Patrick for laws restricting abortion access. The former Republican describes himself as “pro-choice” and aligns more with the Democratic Party on that issue.

Dowd formerly worked for Texas’ last Democratic lieutenant governor, Bob Bullock, before switching parties in 1999 and joining Bush’s team. He helped run Bush’s reelection campaign in 2004. Dowd broke with Bush in 2007 over his handling of the Iraq war and worked as a political analyst for ABC News.

Collier vs Dowd

Before Dowd can face Patrick in the November 2022 election he’ll have to beat Mike Collier in the spring primary. Collier, a Houston area accountant, won the Democratic nomination in 2018 and lost to Patrick by about 400,000 votes, 51.3% to 46.5%, with a Libertarian candidate taking 2.2%. Collier is expected to run again — he’s formed a campaign team, an exploratory committee, and made campaign appearances — though he hasn’t formally declared.

In a statement following Dowd’s announcement, Collier’s deputy campaign manager Ali S. Zaidi said, “We welcome Matthew Dowd back to the Democratic Party. Mr. Dowd — you may notice things have changed a lot since you were working for Republicans. Democratic voters will be interested to hear how selling a false war, ensuring the deciding Supreme Court vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, and leading the charge to pass numerous anti-marriage equality ballot measures have shaped your current views.”

For his part, Dowd didn’t mention Collier in his own announcement. He instead focused on Patrick and mentioned his former association to Bob Bullock. He did not mention Bush.

Why It Matters

• If Dowd becomes the nominee, he could help push the Texas Democratic Party somewhat more to the right on certain issues, though he would also be under pressure himself to toe the party line.
• A possible O’Rourke-Dowd ticket for governor and lieutenant governor could be pitched as bipartisan, given Dowd’s stint in the GOP. That would potentially play well in the general election; however, as with any statewide Democratic bid, the pair would still face an uphill battle.
• Dowd’s candidacy will force the frontrunner Mike Collier to expend more resources in the primary, leaving less for the general election against Dan Patrick. However, a competitive Democratic primary could also work in favor of Collier or whoever wins the primary by raising the profile of the lieutenant governor’s race and attracting more media coverage.