Matt Gaetz
Matthew Louis Gaetz II (born May 7, 1982) is an American politician and attorney who represented Florida's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives as a Republican from January 2017 until his resignation in December 2024.[1] Prior to his federal service, Gaetz served three terms in the Florida House of Representatives from 2010 to 2016, where he focused on criminal justice reform and fiscal conservatism.[1] A graduate of Florida State University and William & Mary Law School, he worked as a prosecutor in Okaloosa County before entering politics.[1] Gaetz emerged as a prominent figure in national conservative politics through his vocal support for former President Donald Trump, including defenses during the president's two impeachments and advocacy for probes into the origins of the Russia investigation.[2] He was a leading member of the House Freedom Caucus, instrumental in the 2023 effort to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy by filing the motion to vacate the chair.[3] In November 2024, President-elect Trump nominated Gaetz to serve as U.S. Attorney General, praising his commitment to combating government weaponization against political opponents, but Gaetz withdrew the nomination eight days later citing the distraction it posed amid ongoing scrutiny.[4][5] Gaetz faced a federal investigation by the Department of Justice from 2019 to 2023 over allegations of sex trafficking and related misconduct, which concluded without charges after prosecutors determined insufficient evidence and credibility problems with key witnesses.[6] The House Ethics Committee, in a December 2024 report released after his resignation, found no violation of federal sex trafficking laws but substantiated claims of illicit drug use, improper gifts, and facilitation of prostitution for others, prompting his decision to step down before a potential floor vote on sanctions.[7] These events highlighted Gaetz's confrontational style and the polarized reception of his tenure, with supporters viewing him as a defender against institutional bias and critics decrying ethical lapses.[8]Early life and education
Family and upbringing
Matthew Louis Gaetz II was born on May 7, 1982, in Hollywood, Florida, to Don Gaetz, a businessman and former Florida state senator, and Victoria Gaetz (née Quertermous).[9][10] His father co-founded a for-profit hospice provider in the 1980s, building substantial family wealth through healthcare and real estate ventures in Northwest Florida, and later entered politics, serving in the Florida Senate from 2006 to 2016 as a Republican.[11][10] Gaetz's paternal grandfather, Jerry Gaetz, was a North Dakota state legislator and mayor of Rugby, North Dakota, reflecting a multigenerational pattern of political involvement.[12] Gaetz was raised primarily in the Fort Walton Beach area of Okaloosa County, Northwest Florida, after his family relocated from South Florida.[13][14] The family resided in Niceville and maintained multiple properties, including a beachfront home, amid a community known for its conservative leanings and military presence due to nearby Eglin Air Force Base.[15][14] His upbringing occurred in a politically connected household, with his father's business success and Republican activism providing early exposure to governance and conservative principles; Don Gaetz actively supported his son's initial political campaigns, leveraging family networks in Okaloosa County.[16][17]Academic background
Gaetz graduated from Niceville High School in Niceville, Florida, in 2000.[1] He then attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in interdisciplinary sciences in 2003.[13] [18] Following his undergraduate studies, Gaetz enrolled at the William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia, obtaining his Juris Doctor degree in 2007.[1] [19] No public records indicate academic honors, extracurricular leadership roles, or scholarly publications during his higher education.[20]Pre-political career
Legal practice
Gaetz earned a Juris Doctor from the William & Mary Law School in 2007.[21] He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2008.[21] Following his bar admission, Gaetz joined the Fort Walton Beach firm Keefe, Anchors & Gordon, now known as AnchorsGordon, where he engaged in private legal practice.[22] His tenure there lasted approximately two years, from 2008 until he resigned to pursue a political career in 2010.[20] The firm handled a range of civil and criminal matters in the Florida Panhandle region, though specific details on Gaetz's caseload beyond local court appearances remain limited in public records.[23] During this period, Gaetz argued at least seven cases in Okaloosa County courts, covering various legal issues including civil disputes and possibly criminal defense.[21] He achieved a 2-0 record in appellate proceedings before the relevant Florida courts.[21] No high-profile or landmark cases are prominently associated with his brief practice, reflecting the localized nature of his work in a small firm setting.[23] Gaetz maintained his bar membership in good standing after transitioning to politics, though his active litigation diminished thereafter.[19]Other professional endeavors
Prior to entering politics, Gaetz participated in his family's real estate investments in northern Florida, including acquiring properties in Santa Rosa County alongside his father, Don Gaetz.[24] The Gaetz family built a portfolio of commercial and residential holdings, stemming from Don Gaetz's earlier success in healthcare ventures such as the HALO-Flight air ambulance service, which facilitated diversification into property development and management.[10] These activities occurred primarily in the mid-2000s, bridging Gaetz's undergraduate studies at Florida State University, completed in 2003, and his brief legal practice post-law school graduation in 2007.[1] No public records indicate extensive independent business operations by Gaetz outside this familial context during that period.Florida House of Representatives
2010 election and entry into politics
Gaetz entered elective office through a special election for Florida House of Representatives District 4, held after the resignation of incumbent Republican Ray Sansom on February 21, 2010. Sansom stepped down on the eve of a House ethics trial examining allegations of conflicts of interest, including his undisclosed role at Northwest Florida State College funded by state appropriations he helped secure as Speaker.[25][26] District 4 encompassed portions of conservative-leaning Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties in Florida's northwestern Panhandle. At age 27 and working as a criminal defense attorney in Fort Walton Beach, Gaetz announced his candidacy as a Republican emphasizing fiscal conservatism and limited government, aligning with the Tea Party movement's rising influence amid national backlash against government spending.[27] Gaetz won the Republican primary on March 23, 2010, against four challengers: Craig Barker, Bill Garvie, Jerry Melvin, and Kabe Woods, capturing a majority of votes in early reporting from precincts in the district.[28][29] In the special general election on April 13, 2010—conducted concurrently with a congressional special election—Gaetz defeated Democratic nominee Greg Burke, receiving 66 percent of the vote in the heavily Republican district.[30][31] This outcome reflected broader Republican gains in 2010, driven by voter discontent with the prior Democratic congressional majority and state-level scandals like Sansom's. Gaetz was sworn in shortly thereafter, beginning a tenure focused on challenging legislative establishment figures.Legislative tenure and key initiatives
Gaetz was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in a special election on April 13, 2010, and reelected in subsequent cycles, serving continuously until November 8, 2016.[32] He represented District 4 from 2011 to 2013 and District 1 thereafter following redistricting, focusing on criminal justice, regulatory reform, and fiscal conservatism as a member of the Republican supermajority.[32] Assigned to the Judiciary Committee and chairing its Criminal Justice Subcommittee, Gaetz prioritized measures to streamline judicial processes and deter frivolous appeals while upholding self-defense rights.[32] In criminal justice policy, Gaetz defended Florida's stand-your-ground law, which immunizes individuals from civil liability for using deadly force in self-defense without a duty to retreat, amid national scrutiny following the 2012 Trayvon Martin shooting.[33] As subcommittee chair, he opposed repeal efforts, testifying that the law had been applied correctly in over 99 percent of cases and emphasizing its role in protecting lawful citizens from aggressors.[33] His most notable legislative push was the Timely Justice Act (HB 7083), sponsored in the 2013 session, which imposed deadlines for death row inmates to file post-conviction appeals—limiting initial collateral proceedings to 250 days and subsequent state appeals to 150 days—and required the Florida Supreme Court to issue execution warrants within 90 days of federal exhaustion.[34] The measure, intended to halve the average 14-year wait on death row to approximately seven years by curbing delays, passed the House 70-45 on April 25, 2013, cleared the Senate, and was signed by Governor Rick Scott on May 7, 2013, as Chapter 2013-216, Laws of Florida.[34][35] Gaetz also sponsored bills integrating mental health treatment into criminal proceedings, including HB 439 (2016), which expanded competency evaluations and restoration services for defendants with mental illnesses to reduce pretrial detentions and recidivism.[36] On fiscal issues, he championed tax relief aligned with Governor Scott's agenda, co-advancing a 2015 House package delivering $690 million in cuts primarily to communications services taxes, commercial rentals, and intangible personal property to enhance business competitiveness.[37] In 2016, Gaetz supported advancing nearly $1 billion in broader reductions through the House, incorporating a one-year sales tax exemption on college textbooks and a 10-day back-to-school holiday on clothing and supplies, though final Senate negotiations scaled back some provisions.[38] These efforts reflected his advocacy for limited government intervention and opposition to tax increases amid Florida's no-income-tax structure.[37]U.S. House of Representatives
Congressional elections
Gaetz first sought election to the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 1st congressional district, a solidly Republican seat covering the western Florida Panhandle, following the retirement announcement of incumbent Jeff Miller in February 2016.[3] In the Republican primary on August 30, 2016, Gaetz advanced to a runoff against state Senator Greg Evers, receiving 35.3% of the vote to Evers's 24.7%. He won the September 20 runoff with 69.1% of the vote. Gaetz defeated Democrat Steven Specht in the general election on November 8, 2016, capturing 194,911 votes (68.7%) to Specht's 88,846 (31.3%), a margin of 37.4 percentage points.[39] Gaetz won re-election in subsequent cycles, facing minimal primary opposition until 2024 amid scrutiny from a closed Department of Justice investigation into allegations of sex trafficking and related claims, which yielded no charges.[40] In the August 20, 2024, Republican primary, he defeated Navy veteran Aaron Dimmock with 70.4% of the vote to Dimmock's 29.6%, despite Dimmock raising over $2 million from donors critical of Gaetz's conduct.[41] He then prevailed in the general election on November 5, 2024, against Democrat Gay Valimont, securing approximately 66% of the vote in a district rated R+18 by partisan voting indexes.[42] The following table summarizes Gaetz's general election results:| Year | Opponent(s) | Gaetz Votes | Gaetz % | Opponent % | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Steven Specht (D) | 194,911 | 68.7 | 31.3 | +37.4 |
| 2018 | Jennifer Zimmerman (D) | 216,189 | 67.1 | 32.9 | +34.2 |
| 2020 | Phil Ehr (D), Albert Oram (NF) | 283,352 | 64.6 | 35.4 | +30.2 |
| 2022 | Rebekah Jones (D) | 197,320 | 67.9 | 32.1 | +35.8 |
| 2024 | Gay Valimont (D) | N/A* | 66.0 | 34.0 | +32.0 |