Maria Shriver stepped out with close friend and rumored love interest Matthew Dowd this week – 12 years after they were first romantically linked.
The 69-year-old journalist and ex-wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger cut a casual figure as she strolled with the political consultant and pundit, 64, in Los Angeles.
Shriver, who in June claimed she had been single ‘for her whole 60s’, looked close with former ABC News analyst Dowd as they walked, while clad in a white tee and leggings.
Dowd served as a top political strategist for George W. Bush – on both his 2000 and his 2004 campaign and as part of his inner circle – until he publicly split with the president in 2006 over the Iraq war.
He also worked for Shriver’s former Governor of California husband Schwarzenegger – taking a job on the Terminator star’s gubernatorial reelection campaign.
Shriver – the niece of Robert F. Kennedy and President John F. Kennedy – was married to Schwarzenegger for 25 years until it was revealed in 2011 that he had an affair with his maid and had fathered a child – Joseph Baena – with her.
Maria Shriver stepped out with close friend and rumored love interest Matthew Dowd – 12 years after they were first romantically linked
Shriver – the niece of Robert F. Kennedy and President John F. Kennedy – was married to Schwarzenegger for 25 years until it was revealed in 2011 that he had an affair with his maid and had fathered a child – Joseph Baena – with her – pictured together 2003
She and Schwarzenegger have four children together.
Dowd has been married and divorced twice; his second marriage fell apart after one of his twin infant daughters died in the hospital, according to a 2007 profile piece in the Los Angeles Times.
He has two grown sons with his first wife and a daughter Josephine with his second wife.
Despite being linked for more than a decade, Shriver has never publicly confirmed any new relationship with Dowd.
They attended her cousin Bobby Kennedy Jr.’s wedding together in August 2014.
In June she reflected on being single in a candid chat on Today with Jenna & Friends, saying: ‘Your 60s are fantastic, and I was single in my 60s. I have been single my whole 60s. And now I’m ending my 60s. I loved being single, but other people had a big problem with it.’
Adding she was ‘happily single’ she said: ‘I think other people are like, “You don’t have a boyfriend yet? What do you think that’s about?” or “What’s wrong? What do you think you’re doing? Are you not open?“
‘I also think people want you to be happy and they want you to have love and they want you to be in a couple.
The 69-year-old journalist and ex-wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger cut a casual figure as she strolled with the political consultant and pundit, 64, in Los Angeles
Despite being linked for more than a decade, Shriver has never publicly confirmed any new relationship with Dowd
The pair looked at ease with one another on their day out
Shriver was enjoying a day out with her close friend
Despite being linked for more than a decade, Shriver has never publicly confirmed any new relationship with Dowd. They attended her cousin Bobby Kennedy Jr.’s wedding together in August 2014 – pictured
The pair were seen looking cozy on an outing back in 2016
Shriver and Schwarzenegger share Katherine, 35, Christina, 34, Patrick, 31, and Christopher, 27
Schwarzenegger is pictured with son Joseph Baena – who he fathered outside of his marriage to Shriver
‘I’m interested in any great love experience…That’s a yes. I’m kind of trying to be open and yes to life in all its forms. How about that? I just made that all up.
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‘I think if a great man comes along, that’s great, at any age, by the way.’
That same month she told the Jamie Kern Lima Show podcast that she was ‘open’ to a new romance.
She said: ‘I’m a frustrated matchmaker myself, and I’m a big believer in relationships and love. I’ve just kind of gotten to the place now where I’m thinking, I don’t know, maybe, but my life is really full. I’m not looking, but I’m open to whatever God sends my way.
‘My kids have kidded around going, ‘We should make you a dating app [profile].
‘No, I’m good. I’m finally good on my own, and that’s taken a tremendous amount. I have a beautiful life that I’m deeply grateful for, and that feels really good and really full and full of love.’
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Maria Shriver for comment and has yet to hear back.