Kathleen Ann Matthews (née Cunningham; born August 9, 1953) is the former chief communications and public affairs officer for hotel company Marriott International.

In July 2006, Matthews was named Executive Vice President – Global Communications and Public Affairs at Marriott,[3] responsible for the company's external and internal communications, including global brand and corporate public relations, corporate social responsibility, and government affairs.

On June 3, 2015, Matthews officially announced that she was a Democratic Party candidate for Maryland's 8th congressional district, where incumbent Chris Van Hollen was relinquishing his House seat in order to run for the United States Senate.

Both candidates supported gun control, clean energy, campaign finance reform and greater investment in education and health research.

[7] By April, 2016, the primary contest had drawn national attention as 2016's most expensive House race, dominated by Trone's deep pockets.

Even without Trone's cash, the primary in Washington's prosperous Maryland suburbs became the nation's priciest campaign with total fundraising near the $20 million mark.

[10] Matthews promised to renew a state party infrastructure that has deteriorated in recent years, especially outside traditional Democratic strongholds in Baltimore City and Prince George's and Montgomery counties.