Dawn Moore Explained

Dawn Moore
Office:First Lady of Maryland
Governor:Wes Moore
Status:Current
Term Label:Assumed role
Term Start:January 18, 2023
Predecessor:Yumi Hogan
Birth Name:Dawn Chanté Flythe
Birth Date:8 August 1975
Birth Place:Queens, New York, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Children:2
Residence:Government House
Alma Mater:University of Maryland, College Park

Dawn Chanté Flythe Moore (née Flythe; born August 8, 1975)[1] is an American philanthropist, community organizer, campaign strategist, and the current First Lady of Maryland as the wife of Governor Wes Moore. She is the first African-American First Lady of the state.

Early life and education

Flythe was born in Bayside, Queens, to father Earl Flythe, a crane operator for International Union of Operating Engineers Local 14, and mother Pandora Flythe, a music teacher at Public School 100 in South Ozone Park. She graduated from St. Francis Preparatory School.[2] She later attended University of Maryland, College Park, where she earned a degree in government and politics and a certificate in women's studies in 1997.[3]

Career

Flythe began her career in government and politics, accepting the position of Special Assistant to the Secretary in the Community and Intergovernmental Relations Division under Maryland Secretary of State John T. Willis, quickly being promoted as Director of that division. She later worked as a senior policy advisor to Maryland lieutenant governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, eventually becoming her field director during the 2002 Maryland gubernatorial election.

In 2004, Flythe ran for Delegate to the Democratic National Convention, representing U.S. senator John Edwards.[4] She won the Democratic primary, receiving 8.9 percent of the vote.[5] However, Flythe did not check in with the rest of the Maryland delegation nor show up to the convention, leading to Democratic Party officials calling up Louise Gallun to serve as an alternate delegate.[6]

During the 2006 Maryland gubernatorial election, Flythe organized a fundraising committee for Martin O'Malley's gubernatorial candidacy. In December 2006, Maryland lieutenant governor-elect Anthony Brown named Flythe as his director of intergovernmental affairs.[7] She later served as his chief of staff until June 2007.[8] In February 2022, the Baltimore Center Stage appointed Moore to its Board of Trustees.[9]

First Lady of Maryland

Moore became the First Lady of Maryland on January 18, 2023, as her husband Wes Moore was inaugurated as governor of Maryland.[10] She is the first African-American first lady of the state.[11] As first lady, Moore worked with her husband on issues involving military families, mental health, women's economic empowerment, and arts and culture. During the 2024 legislative session, she testified for the Families Service Act, a bill allowing companies to give preferential hiring to military spouses.[12]

Personal life

Moore met Wes Moore in Washington, D.C. in 2002. They moved to the Riverside community in Baltimore in 2006.[13] The couple eloped in Las Vegas while Wes was on a brief leave from Afghanistan and were married by an Elvis impersonator.[14] Their official wedding ceremony was held on July 6, 2007.[15] They have two children, born 2011 and 2013.[16]

In late 2008, the Moores moved from Riverside to Guilford, where they lived until Wes Moore's election as governor in 2022.[17] They reside in Government House, the official residence of the Maryland governor and First Family in Annapolis, Maryland.[18]

Moore was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in her late twenties.[19] She controlled the disease with medication, which she stopped taking once she started having children, and now manages her condition with a strong physical fitness routine, which includes yoga and meditation.[20] In March 2023, Moore said that her MS was in remission.[21]

Notes and References

  1. GovWesMoore . 1689022950177927168 . Governor Wes Moore . Wes Moore . August 8, 2023 . Happy Birthday to my First and forever Lady, @DawnFlytheMoore! You are my compass and our family's heartbeat. Here's to you love, today and always. . August 8, 2023.
  2. News: Williams . John-John IV . From Morgan to the top of Sean Combs' liquor empire . October 8, 2022 . . July 28, 2016.
  3. News: Dawn Moore to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award from Bmorenews & Partners . October 8, 2022 . BmoreNews.com . August 22, 2022.
  4. News: Maryland Democratic delegation studded with notable state politicians . October 8, 2022 . . July 23, 2004.
  5. Web site: 2004 Presidential Primary - Official Results: Female Delegate to the National Democratic Convention . elections.maryland.gov . Maryland State Board of Elections . October 8, 2022 . April 6, 2004.
  6. News: Bacchus . Joseph . Maryland Convention Delegate a No-show in Boston . October 8, 2022 . . July 26, 2004.
  7. News: Yakaitis . Chris . O'Malley's Staff Taking Shape as Appointments Progress . October 8, 2022 . . December 5, 2006.
  8. News: Deutch . Gabby . Wes Moore bets on Maryland . October 8, 2022 . . October 18, 2021.
  9. News: Baltimore Center Stage announces the appointment of seven Trustees . October 8, 2022 . . February 11, 2022.
  10. News: Cox . Erin . Wiggins . Ovetta . Wes Moore sworn in, making history as Md.’s first Black governor . May 8, 2024 . . January 18, 2023.
  11. News: Kromer . Mileah . Perspective: Dawn Flythe Moore also made history and now faces own set of challenges . July 14, 2023 . . January 25, 2023.
  12. News: Gruskin . Abigail . Maryland’s first lady is trying to ‘raise amazing human beings’ in the limelight . May 8, 2024 . . May 8, 2024.
  13. News: Calvert . Scott . Author Wes Moore got undeserved tax breaks . June 2, 2022 . . June 18, 2013 . June 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220603012454/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/investigations/bal-author-wes-moore-got-undeserved-homestead-credits-20130614-story.html . live.
  14. News: Antrim . Taylor . Wes Moore On Gen Z, Social Media, Winning Over Republicans, and Why "Service Will Save Us" . July 23, 2023 . . July 18, 2023.
  15. News: Dawn Flythe, Westley Moore . June 2, 2022 . . July 8, 2007 . June 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220603012440/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/fashion/weddings/08flythe.html . live.
  16. News: Being Wes Moore . June 2, 2022 . Baltimorestyle.com . June 17, 2015 . October 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221020123034/https://www.baltimorestyle.com/being-wes-moore/ . live.
  17. News: Janesch . Sam . Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's Baltimore home sells for $2.5M . July 17, 2023 . . July 17, 2023.
  18. News: Mosbrucker . Kristen . Gov. Wes Moore's Baltimore City home is up for sale with $2.7M price tag . February 22, 2023 . . February 22, 2023.
  19. News: Maryland's first lady shares she is living with multiple sclerosis . March 29, 2023 . . March 27, 2023.
  20. News: Knier . Rebecca . Kopania . Tom . Martin-Ewing . Samara . Seymour . Allison . Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore opens up about MS diagnosis . March 29, 2023 . . March 28, 2023.
  21. News: VerHelst . Megan . Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore Reveals She Has Multiple Sclerosis . March 29, 2023 . . March 28, 2023.