Is Mercedes Colwin Married to Matt Schlapp? Clearing Up the Confusion

When we first came across the question, “Is Mercedes Colwin married to Matt Schlapp?” it struck us how many people seem confused by this.

After digging through various sources and biographies, We realized the main issue is the similarity in names. So here’s what I found out after some personal research and fact-checking.

Is Mercedes Colwin Married to Matt Schlapp? The Straight Answer Right Up Front

No, Mercedes Colwin is not married to Matt Schlapp. Mercedes Colwin is married to a man named Hans, and they have two daughters together. Matt Schlapp is married to Mercedes Schlapp, who is a political strategist and commentator.

This name similarity often leads to misunderstandings, but they are completely separate individuals with different family lives and careers.

Who Exactly is Mercedes Colwin?

Mercedes Colwin caught my attention as a highly accomplished attorney and legal analyst known especially for her role on FOX News.

She started her career in 1996 as an Administrative Law Judge appointed by New York Governor Michael Pataki—a position she held for nearly a decade, overseeing thousands of discrimination and employment law cases.

Her track record is impressive, reportedly winning over 90% of her trials nationwide. Later, she established the New York City office of the law firm Gordon & Rees and has built a reputation defending corporate executives, especially in high-stakes sexual misconduct claims.

Beyond the courtroom, she has earned honors from Forbes and Notre Dame Law School for her leadership and impact.

What’s important here, and what clears up the confusion, is that Mercedes Colwin is married to Hans and has two daughters—not Matt Schlapp.

So, Who is Matt Schlapp?

Next, I looked into Matt Schlapp’s background. He’s a big name in conservative politics, currently chairing the American Conservative Union (ACU), the organization behind the major Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

He served in the George W. Bush administration, including roles as Deputy Assistant to the President and Political Director, before co-founding a lobbying and PR firm called Cove Strategies with his wife, Mercedes Schlapp. The couple often appears together in political media, and they have five children.

Matt Schlapp is a strong political figure, but just to be crystal clear, he is married to Mercedes Schlapp, not Mercedes Colwin.

And Who is Mercedes Schlapp?

Mercedes Schlapp (née Viana) keeps a busy and influential presence as a political strategist and media commentator. She worked in both the Bush and Trump White Houses, directing specialty media and strategic communications respectively.

Her expertise lies in Hispanic outreach and bilingual communications, particularly notable in the Trump-Pence 2020 campaign.

Alongside Matt Schlapp, she co-founded Cove Strategies, combining political consultancy with media work. She’s quite visible in conservative media circles.

Because she shares the name Mercedes, many confuse her with Mercedes Colwin, but they are very different people with unique careers and families

What Is the Matt Schlapp Controversy Everyone’s Searching About?

A lot of the search traffic landing on this page isn’t actually about the Colwin/Schlapp name mix-up, it’s about a real, well-documented controversy involving Matt Schlapp. In January 2023, a campaign staffer who had worked for Herschel Walker’s U.S. Senate campaign publicly alleged that Schlapp groped him in October 2022 after Schlapp had been drinking, according to reporting from The New York Times and The Washington Post. A lawsuit followed, and in December 2023 additional, unnamed accusers were added to the complaint.

In March 2024, the original accuser dropped the lawsuit after reaching a settlement with Schlapp reported at $480,000 by The New York Times, CNN, and The Hill; in a statement at the time, he said he regretted bringing the suit. Mercedes Schlapp was also named as a co-defendant in the case. The story resurfaced in February 2025, when The New York Times reported a new allegation of sexual misconduct swirling around Schlapp and CPAC. As of this update, that is the most recent public reporting on the matter.

Are Matt and Mercedes Schlapp Still Married?

Yes. Matt and Mercedes Schlapp have been married since 2002, and the controversy above hasn’t changed that, there’s no credible report of a divorce or separation. Both have continued to appear together publicly, including at CPAC’s 2026 conference, where Mercedes Schlapp appeared in her role as a CPAC senior fellow. If you searched for “Mercedes Colwin Schlapp divorce,” that’s likely another instance of the same name mix-up covered above, not a real news story.

What Happened to Mercedes Schlapp’s Eye?

This one traces back to Mercedes Schlapp herself. She’s spoken publicly, including on her own X (formerly Twitter) account, about undergoing eye surgery for a retinal tear. That’s a real, self-disclosed medical procedure, not the result of any “accident” some low-quality aggregator sites have speculated about online. We couldn’t find any credible news source confirming an accident, so we’re not going to repeat that claim here.

Summary: Clearing the Name Confusion Once and For All

This research helped me clear up what felt like an ongoing mix-up in public discussions. Hopefully, it clears up the confusion for anyone asking whether Mercedes Colwin is married to Matt Schlapp. They aren’t, and each leads a distinct personal and professional life.

Sources

• Mercedes Colwin Bio and Career – GRSM
• Mercedes Colwin Official Site
• Matt Schlapp Wikipedia
• Mercedes Schlapp Hall of Fame Profile
• Matt Schlapp Career Profile – PLI
• Mercedes Schlapp Politico Profile
• GRSM New York Founding Partner Recognition
• Matt Schlapp Political Career – YAF
• Mercedes Schlapp Former Positions – LegiStorm
• Matt Schlapp – Wikipedia (sexual assault allegations and settlement)
• The New York Times, “New Allegation of Sexual Misconduct Swirls Around CPAC” (Feb. 2025)
• CNN, “Matt Schlapp agreed to hefty settlement to end sexual assault lawsuit” (Mar. 2024)