Matt Gaetz American politician representing the Republican Party. Member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida's 1st congressional district since January 3, 2017. Date of Birth: . Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Legal and Political Beginnings
3. State Senate and U.S. House Candidacy
4. Congressional Career
5. Stance on the Capitol Riot
6. Recent Controversies

Early Life and Education

Matthew Gaetz was born on May 7, 1982, in Hollywood, Florida, to Victoria and Don Gaetz, a prominent Florida state politician. Growing up near Fort Walton Beach, Gaetz graduated from Niceville High School in 2000 before earning a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies from Florida State University in 2003. He went on to obtain a Juris Doctor degree from the College of William & Mary Law School in 2007 and was admitted to The Florida Bar on February 6, 2008.

Legal and Political Beginnings

After graduating from law school, Gaetz worked for the law firm Keefe, Anchors & Gordon (now AnchorsGordon) in Fort Walton Beach. In March 2010, he ran for a special election in Florida's 4th House District after the resignation of Ray Sansom. Gaetz won the Republican primary with 42.5% of the vote and defeated Democratic nominee Jan Fernald in the general election with 66% of the vote. He was subsequently reelected twice.

State Senate and U.S. House Candidacy

In 2013, Gaetz announced his intention to run for the U.S. Senate in 2016 from Florida's 1st District, the seat then held by his father. However, he withdrew from the race and instead ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016. Gaetz won the Republican primary with 36.1% of the vote and went on to defeat Democratic nominee Steven Specht in the general election with 69.1% of the vote.

Congressional Career

In Congress, Gaetz has served as a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump and is known for his conservative views. In 2018, he was a top advisor to Ron DeSantis in his campaign for Florida governor. Gaetz has also been involved in controversies, including allegations of sexual misconduct and obstruction of justice.

Stance on the Capitol Riot

Following the January 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol, Gaetz stated that "there were members of the Antifa terrorist group" among those who breached the building. He voted against impeaching Trump for his role in the riot.

Recent Controversies

In June 2021, Gaetz voted against awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to police officers who responded to the January 6 events. He has also faced an investigation by the Department of Justice for allegedly having a relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paying for her to travel across state lines.