Caitlin Draper Mattelin

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Caitlin Draper Mattelin

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Lewisville High School

Bachelor's

University of Arkansas, 2015

Graduate

University of Arkansas

Personal

Birthplace

Lewisville, Texas

Profession

Social worker

Contact

Campaign website

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Caitlin Draper Mattelin (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Draper Mattelin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Caitlin Draper Mattelin lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Mattelin's career experience includes working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a clinical focus on Autism Spectrum Disorder and eating disorders.

Elections

2024

See also: Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District election, 2024

Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Republican primary)

Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Arkansas District 3

Incumbent Steve Womack defeated Caitlin Draper Mattelin and Bobby Wilson in the general election for U.S. House Arkansas District 3 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Steve Womack (R)	63.8	192,101
		Caitlin Draper Mattelin (D)	31.8	95,652
		Bobby Wilson (L)	4.4	13,331

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 301,084
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Caitlin Draper Mattelin advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Arkansas District 3.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Arkansas District 3

Incumbent Steve Womack defeated Clint Penzo in the Republican primary for U.S. House Arkansas District 3 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Steve Womack	53.9	35,768
		Clint Penzo	46.1	30,545

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 66,313
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Arkansas District 3

Bobby Wilson advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Arkansas District 3 on February 25, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bobby Wilson (L)	92.7	38
		Other/Write-in votes	7.3	3

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 41
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Draper Mattelin in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Caitlin Draper Mattelin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Draper Mattelin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Caitlin Draper lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas with her husband. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice. She has served as a part-time adjunct lecturer at the University of Arkansas School of Social Work. Caitlin earned her bachelors and master's degrees in social work from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Caitlin’s clinical focus is Autism Spectrum Disorder and disordered eating, and has earned both Advanced Certified Autism Specialist as well as a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist credentials. Caitlin is passionate about serving her community and co-founded Arkansans for Social Justice in 2022 with her two best friends.

Caitlin played the alto saxophone in the Razorback Marching Band. Throughout work on her undergraduate degree, Caitlin worked in the Emergency Department on the night shift as an ER Tech II. She held the job throughout graduate school, working day shift instead. Caitlin also worked overnights at the Arkansas Crisis Center, Arkansas's National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in college.

Caitlin is a fierce advocate for people living with disabilities, and cites her experiences with her older sister who was born with Spina Bifida as the reason for her advocacy. She worked at Camp Barnabas, a Christian camp for people living with complex medical issues and/or disabilities, over several summers throughout high school and college.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Caitlin's background as a social worker makes her uniquely qualified to address constituents’ needs.
• Caitlin understands personally the need for access to reproductive freedoms from her personal story undergoing IVF.
• In congress, Caitlin hopes to tackle the rising cost of living in her district, resolve the housing crisis in NWA and the River Valley, and vote on legislation to relieve inflation.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Caitlin is passionate about public health, reproductive rights, disability rights, ensuring personal freedoms, climate policy, and bipartisan work.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Elected officials work for the people. Caitlin believes that members of congress should be empathic, accessible, good listeners, and able to compromise.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was at the age of 12, working for my neighbor's birthday party business.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Caitlin supports term limits on congress members.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes. Bipartisan work and compromise is essential to good representation and policy.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

LPAC, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in American, National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Vote Common Good, Committee to Protect Health Care, Recommended by the Arkansas Education Association and the American Education Association.

What committees interest you?

Caitlin finds the house committees on ethics, natural resources, science, space, and technology, as well as the house committee on agriculture interesting.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Mattelin’s campaign website stated the following:

“	Healthcare for All Healthcare is not a privilege but a necessity that every individual deserves, regardless of their socio-economic status. Ensuring healthcare coverage for ALL Arkansans improves public health outcomes, reduces health disparities, and promotes overall well-being. It safeguards individuals and families from the financial burden of catastrophic medical expenses, allowing them to lead healthier and more productive lives. Moreover, a healthy population is more likely to contribute to the economic and social development of a nation. Providing healthcare for all not only reflects a society's commitment to its people's welfare but also leads to stronger, more resilient communities and a fairer, more inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. The Right to Choose By supporting a woman's right to choose, we uphold the core tenets of freedom, bodily autonomy, and personal privacy. A pro-choice stance ensures that the government does not intrude into the most personal and complex decisions a person can make regarding their reproductive health. It empowers individuals to make choices based on their unique circumstances and beliefs, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all solution. Ultimately, being pro-choice is about respecting the diversity of individual choices and circumstances while keeping government interference to a minimum, which is a fundamental principle of a small government. Climate Change Addressing climate change is one of the most critical challenges of our time. The importance of taking swift and comprehensive action cannot be overstated. Climate change poses a severe threat to our planet's ecosystems, biodiversity, and the well-being of current and future generations. Its impacts are already evident, from extreme weather events to rising sea levels and disruptions in agriculture and ecosystems. Failing to tackle climate change jeopardizes not only the environment but also global stability, as it can exacerbate resource scarcity, displacement of populations, and social unrest. This is not a partisan issue. By mitigating the causes of climate change and adapting to its effects, we can protect our environment, ensure a sustainable future, and create new opportunities for innovation, green technology, and economic growth. Social Justice As your representative in Congress, I am deeply committed to fighting for your civil rights and social justice. My mission is to ensure that every person in our district is treated with respect, equality, and dignity, regardless of their background, race, gender, or any other defining characteristic. I will work tirelessly to advance legislation that protects and enhances civil rights, working to dismantle systemic discrimination and promote inclusion in all aspects of society. Social justice will be at the core of my legislative agenda, advocating for affordable healthcare, quality education, a living wage, and comprehensive criminal justice reform. I will engage in dialogue with our community, listening to your concerns and needs, and together, we will champion policies that foster a more just, equitable, and compassionate society for all. Your civil rights and social justice are my top priorities, and I am honored to be your voice in Congress. Disability Rights Rights for people with disabilities are not just a matter of fairness; they are a fundamental component of a just and inclusive society. Upholding the rights of individuals with disabilities is a reflection of our commitment to equality and human dignity. I believe that good policy ensures that every person, regardless of their abilities, has the opportunity to live a life of autonomy, respect, and full participation in society. These rights encompass access to education, employment, healthcare, transportation, and countless other aspects of daily life. Recognizing and protecting the rights of people with disabilities is not only a moral imperative but also a means of enriching our communities and fostering a more equitable and compassionate world for all. ​Raising up Arkansans Arkansas ranks 47th in healthcare in the US, 43rd in child wellbeing, has 15% higher maternal mortality rate than most states, and is 43rd in education. Arkansans deserve better, and our current leadership isn't helping. Arkansans need someone who will fight for funding, fight for social programs, and will act in the best interest of citizens in District 3.	”
—Caitlin Draper Mattelin’s campaign website (2024)

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Caitlin Draper Mattelin campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House Arkansas District 3	Lost general	$258,728	$257,970
Grand total			$258,728	$257,970
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

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Candidate

U.S. House Arkansas District 3

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Footnotes

[show]

Arkansas' current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

John Boozman (R)

Tom Cotton (R)

Representatives

District 1

Rick Crawford (R)

District 2

French Hill (R)

District 3

Steve Womack (R)

District 4

Bruce Westerman (R)

Republican Party (6)