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Dawn Moore
Official headshot of Dawn Moore in February 2023
Moore in 2023
First Lady of Maryland
Current
Assumed role
January 18, 2023
GovernorWes Moore
Preceded byYumi Hogan
Personal details
Born
Dawn Chanté Flythe

(1975-08-08) August 8, 1975 (age 49)
Queens, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
​
(m. 2007)​
Children2
ResidenceGovernment House
Alma materUniversity of Maryland, College Park

Dawn Chanté Flythe Moore (née Flythe; born August 8, 1975)[1][2] 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

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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.[2] She graduated from St. Francis Preparatory School.[3] 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.[4][5]

Career

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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.[6] 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.[6]

In 2004, Flythe ran for Delegate to the Democratic National Convention, representing U.S. senator John Edwards.[5] She won the Democratic primary, receiving 8.9 percent of the vote.[7] 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.[8]

During the 2006 Maryland gubernatorial election, Flythe organized a fundraising committee for Martin O'Malley's gubernatorial candidacy.[6] In December 2006, Maryland lieutenant governor-elect Anthony Brown named Flythe as his director of intergovernmental affairs.[9] She later served as his chief of staff until June 2007.[2][10] In February 2022, the Baltimore Center Stage appointed Moore to its Board of Trustees.[6]

First Lady of Maryland

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Dawn with Wes Moore and their children at the Maryland gubernatorial inauguration, 2023

Moore became the First Lady of Maryland on January 18, 2023, as her husband Wes Moore was inaugurated as governor of Maryland.[11] She is the first African-American first lady of the state.[12] 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.[13]

Personal life

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Moore met Wes Moore in Washington, D.C. in 2002.[13] They moved to the Riverside community in Baltimore in 2006.[14] The couple eloped in Las Vegas while Wes was on a brief leave from Afghanistan and were married by an Elvis impersonator.[15] Their official wedding ceremony was held on July 6, 2007.[2] 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][15] In March 2023, Moore said that her MS was in remission.[21]

References

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  1. ^ Governor Wes Moore [@GovWesMoore] (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" (Tweet). Retrieved August 8, 2023 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b c d "Dawn Flythe, Westley Moore". New York Times. July 8, 2007. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  3. ^ Williams, John-John IV (July 28, 2016). "From Morgan to the top of Sean Combs' liquor empire". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  4. ^ "Dawn Moore to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award from Bmorenews & Partners". BmoreNews.com. August 22, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Maryland Democratic delegation studded with notable state politicians". The Daily Record. July 23, 2004. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d "Baltimore Center Stage announces the appointment of seven Trustees". Baltimore Afro-American. February 11, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  7. ^ "2004 Presidential Primary - Official Results: Female Delegate to the National Democratic Convention". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. April 6, 2004. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  8. ^ Bacchus, Joseph (July 26, 2004). "Maryland Convention Delegate a No-show in Boston". Capital News Service. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  9. ^ Yakaitis, Chris (December 5, 2006). "O'Malley's Staff Taking Shape as Appointments Progress". Capital News Service. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  10. ^ Deutch, Gabby (October 18, 2021). "Wes Moore bets on Maryland". Jewish Insider. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  11. ^ Cox, Erin; Wiggins, Ovetta (January 18, 2023). "Wes Moore sworn in, making history as Md.'s first Black governor". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  12. ^ Kromer, Mileah (January 25, 2023). "Perspective: Dawn Flythe Moore also made history and now faces own set of challenges". Baltimore Banner. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Gruskin, Abigail (May 8, 2024). "Maryland's first lady is trying to 'raise amazing human beings' in the limelight". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Calvert, Scott (June 18, 2013). "Author Wes Moore got undeserved tax breaks". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  15. ^ a b Antrim, Taylor (July 18, 2023). "Wes Moore On Gen Z, Social Media, Winning Over Republicans, and Why "Service Will Save Us"". Vogue. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "Being Wes Moore". Baltimorestyle.com. June 17, 2015. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  17. ^ Janesch, Sam (July 17, 2023). "Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's Baltimore home sells for $2.5M". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  18. ^ Mosbrucker, Kristen (February 22, 2023). "Gov. Wes Moore's Baltimore City home is up for sale with $2.7M price tag". WYPR. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  19. ^ "Maryland's first lady shares she is living with multiple sclerosis". WTTG. March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  20. ^ Knier, Rebecca; Kopania, Tom; Martin-Ewing, Samara; Seymour, Allison (March 28, 2023). "Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore opens up about MS diagnosis". WUSA-TV. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  21. ^ VerHelst, Megan (March 28, 2023). "Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore Reveals She Has Multiple Sclerosis". Patch Media. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
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