Matt Bliss

Matt Bliss

Republican Party

Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B

Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

2

Predecessor

Steve Green

Prior offices

Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A

Successor: John Persell

Predecessor: John Persell

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Compensation

Base salary

$51,750/year

Per diem

$66/day

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 5, 2024

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Navy

Personal

Profession

Business owner

Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Matt Bliss (Republican Party) is a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 2B. He assumed office on January 3, 2023. His current term ends on January 12, 2027.

Bliss (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives to represent District 2B. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Matt Bliss lives in Pennington, Minnesota. Bliss served in the U.S. Navy. His career experience includes owning a business. Bliss has served as the president of the Pennington Resort Association.

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Bliss was assigned to the following committees:

• Children and Families Finance and Policy
• Elections Finance and Policy
• Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee

2021-2022

Bliss was assigned to the following committees:

• Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee
• House Housing Finance and Policy Committee
• Industrial Education and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee (decommissioned)

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2017
• Environment and Natural Resources
• Government Operations and Elections

Sponsored legislation

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Elections

2024

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B

Incumbent Matt Bliss defeated Michael Reyes in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matt Bliss (R)	63.7	14,372
	Submit photo	Michael Reyes (D)	36.2	8,168
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	10

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 22,550
= 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. Michael Reyes advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Matt Bliss advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Bliss in this election.

2022

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B

Incumbent Matt Bliss defeated Erika Bailey-Johnson in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matt Bliss (R)	63.5	11,310
		Erika Bailey-Johnson (D)	36.5	6,505
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	8

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 17,823
= 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.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Erika Bailey-Johnson advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Matt Bliss advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B.

2020

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A

Matt Bliss defeated incumbent John Persell in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matt Bliss (R)	53.4	11,482
		John Persell (D)	46.5	9,996
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	36

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 21,514
= 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.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent John Persell advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Matt Bliss advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A.

2018

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A

John Persell defeated incumbent Matt Bliss in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Persell (D)	50.0	8,454
		Matt Bliss (R)	49.9	8,443
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	7

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,904
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A

John Persell advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		John Persell

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A

Incumbent Matt Bliss advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Matt Bliss

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source
= 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.

2016

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2016.

Matt Bliss defeated incumbent John Persell in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A general election.

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 5A General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Matt Bliss	53.95%	10,318
	Democratic	John Persell Incumbent	46.05%	8,808
Total Votes				19,126
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State

Incumbent John Persell ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A Democratic primary.

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 5A Democratic Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Democratic	John Persell Incumbent (unopposed)

Matt Bliss ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A Republican primary.

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 5A Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Matt Bliss  (unopposed)

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Matt Bliss did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Matt Bliss did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Matt Bliss did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2016

Bliss' campaign website highlighted the following issues:

Restoring fiscal responsibility

• Excerpt: "We Currently have a 900 Million Dollar Surplus. This is the Taxpayers money. before this money is spent, we need to be sure that it will benefit our district."

Economy

• Excerpt: "We have an unemployment rate (6.7%) almost double that of the state of Minnesota (3.7%). State programs to address unemployment simply don’t help Northern Minnesota. It’s time to let our voices be heard, and take action against the policies that have failed us."

Healthcare'

• Excerpt: "Rising health insurance costs are hurting our families. Matt will fight to lower costs, increase

choices, and stop wasting tax dollars on our failed MNsure system. Matt will not allow MNsure executive to receive outrageous bonuses for a failed job.

Technology and education

• Excerpt: "We can utilize technology to aid our teachers, improve the delivery of our education services, and the upgrade the content given to our students."

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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Matt Bliss campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B	Won general	$21,687	$19,746
2022	Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B	Won general	$28,644	$26,131
2020	Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A	Won general	$42,158	N/A**
2018	Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A	Lost general	$40,095	N/A**
2016	Minnesota House of Representatives, District 5a	Won	$31,249	N/A**
Grand total			$163,832	$45,877
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
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Minnesota

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of Minnesota scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

2024

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show].

In 2024, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 12 to May 20. AFSCME Council 5 Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues. Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise." Minnesota AFL-CIO Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues. Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues. National Federation of Independent Business Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.

2023

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show].

In 2023, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 3 to May 22. Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise." Minnesota AFL-CIO Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues. Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2022

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show].

In 2022, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 31 to May 23. AFSCME Council 5 Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues. Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise." Minnesota AFL-CIO Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues. Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues. National Federation of Independent Business Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.

2021

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show].

In 2021, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 5 to May 17. Action 4 Liberty Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. AFSCME Council 5 Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues. Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise." Minnesota AFL-CIO Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues. Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2018

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show].

In 2018, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 20 through May 21. Action 4 Liberty Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise." Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life: Senate and House Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. Taxpayers League of Minnesota Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2017

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show].

In 2017, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 3 through May 22. The legislature held a special session from May 23 to May 26. AFSCME Council 5 Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues. Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise." MinnCAN Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to education. Minnesota AFL-CIO Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues. Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life: Senate and House Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. Taxpayers League of Minnesota Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

See also

2024 Elections

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Candidate

Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B

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Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Steve Green (R)	Minnesota House of Representatives District 2B 2023-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by John Persell (D)	Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A 2021-2023	Succeeded by Krista Knudsen (R)
Preceded by John Persell (D)	Minnesota House of Representatives District 5A 2017-2019	Succeeded by John Persell (D)

[show]

Current members of the Minnesota House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Lisa Demuth

Majority Leader:Harry Niska

Representatives

District 1A

John Burkel (R)

District 1B

Steve Gander (R)

District 2A

Bidal Duran (R)

District 2B

Matt Bliss (R)

District 3A

Roger Skraba (R)

District 3B

Natalie Zeleznikar (R)

District 4A

Heather Keeler (D)

District 4B

Jim Joy (R)

District 5A

Krista Knudsen (R)

District 5B

Mike Wiener (R)

District 6A

Ben Davis (R)

District 6B

Josh Heintzeman (R)

District 7A

Spencer Igo (R)

District 7B

Cal Warwas (R)

District 8A

Pete Johnson (D)

District 8B

Alicia Kozlowski (D)

District 9A

Jeff Backer (R)

District 9B

Tom Murphy (R)

District 10A

Ron Kresha (R)

District 10B

Isaac Schultz (R)

District 11A

Jeff Dotseth (R)

District 11B

Nathan Nelson (R)

District 12A

Paul Anderson (R)

District 12B

Mary Franson (R)

District 13A

Lisa Demuth (R)

District 13B

Tim O'Driscoll (R)

District 14A

Bernie Perryman (R)

District 14B

Dan Wolgamott (D)

District 15A

Chris Swedzinski (R)

District 15B

Paul Torkelson (R)

District 16A

Scott Van Binsbergen (R)

District 16B

Dave Baker (R)

District 17A

Dawn Gillman (R)

District 17B

Bobbie Harder (R)

District 18A

Erica Schwartz (R)

District 18B

Luke Frederick (D)

District 19A

Keith Allen (R)

District 19B

Tom Sexton (R)

District 20A

Pam Altendorf (R)

District 20B

Steven Jacob (R)

District 21A

Joe Schomacker (R)

District 21B

Marj Fogelman (R)

District 22A

Bjorn Olson (R)

District 22B

Terry Stier (R)

District 23A

Peggy Bennett (R)

District 23B

Patricia Mueller (R)

District 24A

Duane Quam (R)

District 24B

Tina Liebling (D)

District 25A

Kim Hicks (D)

District 25B

Andy Smith (D)

District 26A

Aaron Repinski (R)

District 26B

Greg Davids (R)

District 27A

Shane Mekeland (R)

District 27B

Bryan Lawrence (R)

District 28A

James Gordon (R)

District 28B

Max Rymer (R)

District 29A

Joe McDonald (R)

District 29B

Marion Rarick (R)

District 30A

Walter Hudson (R)

District 30B

Paul Novotny (R)

District 31A

Harry Niska (R)

District 31B

Peggy Scott (R)

District 32A

Nolan West (R)

District 32B

Matt Norris (D)

District 33A

Patti Anderson (R)

District 33B

Josiah Hill (D)

District 34A

Danny Nadeau (R)

District 34B

Vacant

District 35A

Zack Stephenson (D)

District 35B

Kari Rehrauer (D)

District 36A

Elliott Engen (R)

District 36B

Brion Curran (D)

District 37A

Kristin Robbins (R)

District 37B

Kristin Bahner (D)

District 38A

Huldah Hiltsley (D)

District 38B

Samantha Vang (D)

District 39A

Erin Koegel (D)

District 39B

Sandra Feist (D)

District 40A

Kelly Moller (D)

District 40B

David Gottfried (D)

District 41A

Wayne Johnson (R)

District 41B

Tom Dippel (R)

District 42A

Ned Carroll (D)

District 42B

Ginny Klevorn (D)

District 43A

Cedrick Frazier (D)

District 43B

Mike Freiberg (D)

District 44A

Peter Fischer (D)

District 44B

Leon Lillie (D)

District 45A

Andrew Myers (R)

District 45B

Patty Acomb (D)

District 46A

Larry Kraft (D)

District 46B

Cheryl Youakim (D)

District 47A

Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger (D)

District 47B

Ethan Cha (D)

District 48A

Jim Nash (R)

District 48B

Lucille Rehm (D)

District 49A

Alex Falconer (D)

District 49B

Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (D)

District 50A

Julie Greene (D)

District 50B

Steve Elkins (D)

District 51A

Michael Howard (D)

District 51B

Nathan Coulter (D)

District 52A

Liz Reyer (D)

District 52B

Bianca Virnig (D)

District 53A

Mary Clardy (D)

District 53B

Rick Hansen (D)

District 54A

Brad Tabke (D)

District 54B

Ben Bakeberg (R)

District 55A

Jessica Hanson (D)

District 55B

Kaela Berg (D)

District 56A

Robert Bierman (D)

District 56B

John Huot (D)

District 57A

Jon Koznick (R)

District 57B

Jeff Witte (R)

District 58A

Kristi Pursell (D)

District 58B

Drew Roach (R)

District 59A

Fue Lee (D)

District 59B

Esther Agbaje (D)

District 60A

Sydney Jordan (D)

District 60B

Mohamud Noor (D)

District 61A

Katie Jones (D)

District 61B

Jamie Long (D)

District 62A

Aisha Gomez (D)

District 62B

Anquam Mahamoud (D)

District 63A

Samantha Sencer-Mura (D)

District 63B

Emma Greenman (D)

District 64A

Kaohly Her (D)

District 64B

Dave Pinto (D)

District 65A

Samakab Hussein (D)

District 65B

Maria Isa Pérez-Vega (D)

District 66A

Leigh Finke (D)

District 66B

Athena Hollins (D)

District 67A

Liz Lee (D)

District 67B

Jay Xiong (D)

Republican Party (67)

Democratic Party (66)

Vacancies (1)