Global InformationMatt Gaetz information
Matt Gaetz | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2020 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 1st district | |
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Jeff Miller |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 4th district | |
| In office April 13, 2010 – November 8, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Ray Sansom |
| Succeeded by | Mel Ponder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Matthew Louis Gaetz II May 7, 1982 Hollywood, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Ginger Luckey (m. 2021) |
| Parent | Don Gaetz (father) |
| Relatives | Palmer Luckey (brother-in-law) |
| Education | Florida State University (BS) College of William & Mary (JD) |
| Website | House website |
Matthew Louis Gaetz II (/ɡeɪts/ GATES; born May 7, 1982) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Florida's 1st congressional district since 2017. The district includes all of Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties, and portions of Walton County. A member of the Republican Party, he is widely regarded as a staunch proponent of far-right politics as well as an ally of former president Donald Trump.[1][2]
The son of prominent Florida politician Don Gaetz and grandson of North Dakota politician Jerry Gaetz, Gaetz was raised in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. After graduating from the William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia, he briefly worked in private practice before running for state representative. He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2010 until 2016, and received national attention for defending Florida's controversial "stand-your-ground law".[3] In 2016, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and was reelected in 2018, 2020, and 2022.
In 2020, Gaetz was accused of sex trafficking and having sexual relationships with minors. After an investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) decided not to charge him, though Gaetz remains under investigation of the House Ethics Committee. In October 2023, Gaetz filed a motion to vacate which led to the removal of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.[4][5]
- ^ Zurcher, Anthony (April 5, 2021). "Matt Gaetz: Why this Trump ally is fighting for his political life". BBC News. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
- ^ Sources describing Gaetz as "far-right" include:
- Mansfield, Erin; Looker, Rachel (February 22, 2022). "Mimicking Donald Trump, far-right lawmakers use personal celebrity to draw in donors". USA Today. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
Far-right candidates like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz...
- "Factbox: Power of Trump's endorsements faces test in 12 U.S. midterm primaries". Reuters. May 1, 2022. Archived from the original on May 1, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
Former special forces officer Kent has campaigned with far right U.S. representative Matt Gaetz of Florida...
- Beyerstein, Lindsay (May 12, 2022). "The far-right vs. women's rights". IPS Journal. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
Far-right congressman Matt Gaetz revealed more...
- "3rd venue cancels Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene rally". ABC News. Associated Press. July 17, 2021. Archived from the original on July 17, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
The two far-right members of Congress [Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene] billed the event as an "America First" rally...
- Benen, Steve (December 8, 2021). "Gaetz says he's talked to Trump about making him House speaker". MSNBC. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
Yesterday, as Forbes reported, the far-right congressman [Matt Gaetz] went a little further.
- Pengelly, Martin (March 31, 2022). "Congressman Madison Cawthorn under fire over claims of DC drugs and orgies". The Guardian. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
One of their members [Matt Gaetz of Florida, another far-right congressman]...
- Mansfield, Erin; Looker, Rachel (February 22, 2022). "Mimicking Donald Trump, far-right lawmakers use personal celebrity to draw in donors". USA Today. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ Peters, Justin (November 7, 2013). "Meet the Uncompromising Ideologue Chairing Florida's "Stand Your Ground" Hearings". Slate. Archived from the original on March 31, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ Edmondson, Catie (October 2, 2023). "Gaetz Moves to Oust McCarthy, Threatening His Grip on the Speakership". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- ^ Edmondson, Catie; Broadwater, Luke (October 3, 2023). "House to Decide McCarthy's Future as Speaker". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.