Matt Moore (politician)

Donald Matthew Moore (born April 22, 1982) is an American political commentator and Republican political strategist who served as the 18th chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party from 2013 to 2017.[1] For most of his two terms, he was the youngest state chairman in America's two major political parties.[2]

Matt Moore
Chair of the South Carolina Republican Party
In office
June 8, 2013 – May 13, 2017
Preceded byChad Connelly
Succeeded byDrew McKissick
Personal details
Born
Donald Matthew Moore

(1982-04-22) April 22, 1982
Tifton, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMeg
Alma materGeorgia Institute of
Technology (BS)
University of South Carolina (MA)

Early life, education, and early career

Moore was born and raised in Tifton, Georgia. Moore attended Georgia Tech, where he majored in industrial engineering and minored in pre-law. At Georgia Tech, Moore was a Presidential Scholar, the highest academic scholarship awarded to undergraduate students. He graduated with honors in 2005. After working for Republican political organizations including the Georgia Republican Party and the Republican Governors Association, Moore moved to South Carolina in 2007 to work for then-governor Mark Sanford.

Moore attended business school at the University of South Carolina, where in 2014 he earned a master’s degree in Economics.[3] His research thesis, "The Economic Impact of South Carolina's 2012 Republican Presidential Primary," received state and national press coverage.[4]

He served as the South Carolina Republican Party's executive director during the 2011-2012 election cycle[5] and as a senior staffer for United States Senator Tim Scott before his election.[6]

Political career

Moore has served as a commentator for Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. On June 12, 2014, he earned the national New York Times "Quotation of the Day" for describing the power of grassroots activists in the social media era.[7] On May 2, 2015, Moore was re-elected to a second term. He won 83% of the vote.[8]

In April 2016, Moore was mentioned as a possible candidate for chairman of the Republican National Committee.[9] An editorial in The Post and Courier stated the "Republican National Committee probably needs to move Matt Moore to the top of its short list."[10]

In July 2016, Moore served as co-chairman of the South Carolina delegation to the 2016 Republican National Convention and as a member of the convention's powerful Rules Committee.[11]

In November 2016, Moore's name appeared on a short list of candidates under consideration to replace Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus. Michigan Republican Party chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel was eventually chosen by then-President-elect Donald Trump as his recommendation to replace Priebus.[12]

In December 2016, Moore served as a member of the Presidential Electoral College.[13] On February 4, 2017 Moore announced that he would not seek a third term as chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party.[14]

Personal life

Moore has two siblings, including a twin brother. He is married to Meg LeHeup and they have one child.

Despite being in rival parties, Moore is friends with former South Carolina Democratic Party chairman Jaime Harrison. They co-taught a class together at University of South Carolina during the fall semester of 2015.[15]

Moore is a member of Liberty Fellowship, a partner of the Aspen Institute, and is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.[16]

References
  1. "Republican Party to step up outreach to evangelicals". CNN. CNN. June 8, 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  2. "South Carolina Has Youngest, Second-Youngest State Party Chairs in Nation". Free-Times. Resort Media LLC. June 10, 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  3. "2012 S.C. Republican presidential primary a $50 million bonus for the state, study shows". Charleston Post and Courier. Evening Post Industries. January 11, 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  4. Kropf, Schuyler. "2012 S.C. Republican presidential primary a $50 million bonus for the state, study shows". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  5. "Matt Moore named executive director of state GOP - South Carolina Radio Network". South Carolina Radio Network. 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  6. "SC GOP director leaving to work for Sen. Scott". Post and Courier. Associated Press. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  7. "Quotation of the Day for Thursday, June 12, 2014". The New York Times. June 12, 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  8. "Matt Moore gets 2nd 2-year term as SC Republican chairman". Worldnow/Raycom. Associated Press. May 2, 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  9. "Backstage maneuvering begins in wide-open GOP chairman's race". The Hill. Capitol Hill Publishing Corp. March 31, 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  10. "Matt Moore may be a party man, but he's no political hack". The (Charleston, S.C.) Post & Courier. Evening Post Industries. April 6, 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  11. "GOP rejects proposed changes to SC's first-in-the-South primary". The Greenville News. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  12. "Short list emerges for RNC chair". Politico. Politico LLC. November 14, 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  13. "Despite protests, Trump easily wins SC's 9 electoral votes". thestate. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  14. "South Carolina GOP chairman not seeking re-election, Democratic chair likely to follow". The (Charleston, S.C.) Post & Courier. Evening Post Industries. February 4, 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  15. Landers, Elizabeth; Williams, Brenna (February 18, 2016). "Odd Couple: How a Republican and a Democrat became friends in South Carolina". CNN. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  16. "Poised to Extend their Impact, 21 Proven Leaders Chosen for Liberty Fellowship's 13th Class | Liberty Fellowship". www.libertyfellowshipsc.org. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
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