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Matt Heinz

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Matt Heinz
Image of Matt Heinz
Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2
Tenure

2021 - Present

Term ends

2029

Years in position

4

Predecessor
Prior offices
Arizona House of Representatives District 29

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Albion College, 1999

Medical

Wayne State University School of Medicine, 2003

Personal
Religion
Lutheran (ELCA)
Profession
Doctor
Contact

Matt Heinz (Democratic Party) is a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors in Arizona, representing District 2. He assumed office on January 1, 2021. His current term ends on January 1, 2029.

Heinz (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Pima County Board of Supervisors to represent District 2 in Arizona. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Heinz's professional experience includes working as a physician at the Tucson Medical Center.

He is a member of the Democrats of Greater Tucson, Equality Arizona, Executive Committee of the Healthy Arizona Initiative, Southern Arizona Stonewall Democrats, American Medical Association, Arizona Medical Association and Pima County Medical Society.[1]

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Pima County, Arizona (2024)

General election

General election for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2

Incumbent Matt Heinz defeated John Backer in the general election for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Matt Heinz
Matt Heinz (D)
 
61.7
 
46,248
Image of John Backer
John Backer (R) Candidate Connection
 
38.1
 
28,542
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
123

Total votes: 74,913
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2

Incumbent Matt Heinz advanced from the Democratic primary for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2 on July 30, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Matt Heinz
Matt Heinz
 
99.3
 
15,122
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.7
 
113

Total votes: 15,235
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2

John Backer defeated Beatrice Cory Stephens in the Republican primary for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2 on July 30, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Backer
John Backer Candidate Connection
 
61.1
 
5,043
Beatrice Cory Stephens
 
38.0
 
3,138
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.9
 
71

Total votes: 8,252
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Heinz in this election.

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Pima County, Arizona (2020)

General election

General election for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2

Matt Heinz defeated Anthony Sizer in the general election for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Matt Heinz
Matt Heinz (D)
 
67.7
 
48,153
Image of Anthony Sizer
Anthony Sizer (R)
 
32.2
 
22,885
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
110

Total votes: 71,148
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2

Matt Heinz defeated incumbent Ramon Valadez and Richard Hernandez in the Democratic primary for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Matt Heinz
Matt Heinz
 
52.1
 
10,333
Ramon Valadez
 
34.0
 
6,745
Richard Hernandez
 
13.6
 
2,707
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.3
 
60

Total votes: 19,845
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2

Anthony Sizer advanced from the Republican primary for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Anthony Sizer
Anthony Sizer
 
98.7
 
7,656
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.3
 
99

Total votes: 7,755
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Arizona's 2nd Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Arizona District 2

Ann Kirkpatrick defeated Lea Marquez Peterson in the general election for U.S. House Arizona District 2 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ann Kirkpatrick
Ann Kirkpatrick (D)
 
54.7
 
161,000
Image of Lea Marquez Peterson
Lea Marquez Peterson (R)
 
45.2
 
133,083
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
69

Total votes: 294,152
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = 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

Democratic primary for U.S. House Arizona District 2

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Arizona District 2 on August 28, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ann Kirkpatrick
Ann Kirkpatrick
 
41.9
 
33,938
Image of Matt Heinz
Matt Heinz
 
29.6
 
23,992
Image of Mary Matiella
Mary Matiella
 
9.4
 
7,606
Image of Bruce Wheeler
Bruce Wheeler
 
8.4
 
6,814
Image of Billy Kovacs
Billy Kovacs
 
6.6
 
5,350
Image of Barbara Sherry
Barbara Sherry
 
2.6
 
2,074
Image of Yahya Yuksel
Yahya Yuksel Candidate Connection
 
1.6
 
1,319

Total votes: 81,093
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Arizona District 2

Lea Marquez Peterson defeated Brandon Martin, Casey Welch, and Danny Morales in the Republican primary for U.S. House Arizona District 2 on August 28, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Lea Marquez Peterson
Lea Marquez Peterson
 
34.2
 
23,571
Image of Brandon Martin
Brandon Martin
 
28.7
 
19,809
Image of Casey Welch
Casey Welch
 
21.0
 
14,499
Image of Danny Morales
Danny Morales
 
16.1
 
11,135

Total votes: 69,014
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2016

See also: Arizona's 2nd Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Martha McSally (R) defeated former state Rep. Matt Heinz (D) and Ed Tilton Jr. (L write-in) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Heinz defeated Victoria Steele in the Democratic primary on August 30, 2016.[2][3][4][5][6]

U.S. House, Arizona District 2 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMartha McSally Incumbent 57% 179,806
     Democratic Matt Heinz 43% 135,873
Total Votes 315,679
Source: Arizona Secretary of State


U.S. House, Arizona District 2 Democratic Primary, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMatt Heinz 52.8% 32,017
Victoria Steele 47.2% 28,658
Total Votes 60,675
Source: Arizona Secretary of State

2012

See also: Arizona's 2nd Congressional District elections, 2012

Heinz ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Arizona's 2nd District. He was defeated by Ron Barber in the Democratic primary on August 28, 2012.[7][8][9]

2010

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2010

Heinz won re-election to the 29th District seat in 2010. He and Daniel Patterson faced no opposition in the August 24 primary election. They defeated Republican Pat Kilburn in the November 2 general election.[10]

Arizona House of Representatives, District 29 General Election (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Daniel Patterson (D) 18,326
Green check mark transparent.png Matt Heinz (D) 17,227
Pat Kilburn (R) 14,338

2008

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2008

On November 4, 2008, Heinz and Daniel Patterson were elected to the 29th District Seat in the Arizona House of Representatives, defeating opponents Pat Kilburn (R) and Juan Ciscomani (R).[11]

Heinz raised $36,136 for the campaign, Patterson raised $36,151, Kilburn raised $23,741, and Ciscomani raised $17,157.[12]

Arizona State House, District 29 (2008)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Matt Heinz (D) 24,898
Green check mark transparent.png Daniel Patterson (D) 25,684
Pat Kilburn (R) 15,344
Juan Ciscomani (R) 11,960

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

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

2020

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

2018

The content below was taken from Heinz's campaign website.

Healthcare

The Affordable Care Act made progress, this much is undeniable. Equally undeniable is the fact that we still have a huge amount of work to do. Our healthcare system is under attack, it’s under attack by extremists in Congress, entrenched special interests in big pharma, and self-serving insurance lobbies. In the wake of these attacks, Matt believes we must keep moving forward to a system that provides coverage for all. Matt is ready to stand against the assaults on our rights to good doctors and quality care. And he has a plan to bring us closer to the healthcare future we need.

We need to move step-by-step towards universal coverage, so that we can join the rest of the developed nations. We should start with a Medicare buy-in option, which will result in lower costs and heightened levels of public health. Matt also believes that we must work to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, rather than surrendering control to the insurance and pharmaceutical lobbyists. During his time serving veterans, working at the VA Hospital in Tucson, Matt saw first-hand the positive effect of allowing drug prices to be negotiated. This renegotiation will drive down costs, improve public health, and have a meaningful impact on hard-working families. ​ Guns and School Safety

Southern Arizona knows all too well the devastating impact that guns can have on our communities. It seems that finally the winds of change have started to turn against the gun lobbies that have been putting profit before American lives for far too long. There has never been a better time to hold the gun lobby accountable and repeal liability protections. Let’s treat the gun lobby like ‘big tobacco’ and take our country back.

Matt has seen the reality of our country’s problem with guns. He’s treated gunshot wounds in the hospital and knows that gun safety is an issue of public health. He supports an end to the ban imposed on the CDC that prevents them researching gun violence as a health epidemic. The very fact this ban was ever imposed is evidence of just how powerful gun lobbies have become.

To deal with this issue, we must limit the potential for extreme damage. That means limiting capacity to 10 rounds of ammunition, banning bump stocks, and reinstating the assault weapons ban. Furthermore, we need to update the NCIC with current information, require comprehensive background checks, and keep guns away from domestic abusers and those on the terror-watch list. The NRA would have you believe that these measures are the desires of a tyrannical government. They’re not. They’re practical, common-sense precautions to keep our families safe, and they’re supported by the majority of Americans. Matt believes it’s time for Congress to catch up.

Immigration

Immigration is a hot topic, and one that causes a lot of people real concern. We need to address these concerns, but career politicians in Washington have failed to do so. Instead of real solutions, Congress and this administration offer us racially charged policies that play to our worst instincts. They tear families apart, offer false promises of security, promote a culture of intolerance and hate, and through all their harm, fail to fix our system. That’s why Matt proudly voted against SB1070 (the ‘Papers Please’ law) and stands with DACA students and the Dreamers against deportation.

Matt sees the proposed additions to the border wall for what they are, a futile measure and a huge waste of money that could go towards improving people’s lives. Matt believes that partly through increasing the number of customs agents, we can address immigration in a humane way that improves the economy of Southern Arizona and the economy of our biggest trading partner, the Mexican State of Sonora.

Jobs/Economic Development ​ Economic improvement and job creation in Southern Arizona is one of Matt’s top priorities. Unemployment has been on a downward trend, wages have stagnated, and inflation has made the cost of everyday goods and services unattainable for far too many hard-working families. This can’t go on. Matt believes it’s imperative that we invest in public education, invest in vocational training, and increase the minimum wage. Without these actions, we lock the doors to the American Dream to all but a few.

Furthermore, Matt recognizes the dire need to update our infrastructure. Including building a new energy grid, which will not only create jobs and improve wages, but have a meaningful impact on public safety and our environment. Most importantly, these infrastructure improvements will come from American manufacturers and American workers, so that we can end the trend of cheap outsourcing, thereby keeping our hard-earned tax dollars here at home - where they will do the most for our communities.

Environment

Almost the entire scientific community agrees that climate change is having a real, immediate impact on our environment. If we don’t act, the results will likely be catastrophic. That’s why Matt advocates a 21st century energy grid, improving alternative energy technologies, and forcing Washington to abandon their failing ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Matt believes we need to empower individual states to focus on how they can best reduce emissions and develop their green energy potential.

Arizona has the potential to be one of the world’s leading producers of solar power and alternative energy. Yet on this issue, politicians have failed the people of Arizona and are failing the world as a whole. Our corrupt system prioritizes corporate profits on perhaps the most important issue of the century. When he was serving in Arizona legislature, Matt worked to pass bills to improve the production of green energy and protect our environment. If elected, he’ll bring the same leadership to Washington, promoting policies that keep our air, water, and food supply safe for everyone.

Campaign Finance ​ So many of the issues that are devastating our country are because of our outrageous campaign finance laws. Money does not equal speech. Plain and simple. The decision regarding Citizens United will go down as one of the largest failures of the American political process. But it’s not too late to roll back the tides of special interests and corporations buying our political process. Matt believes it’s essential to enact legislation that prohibits corporate PACs from donating to federal candidates if that company is seeking federal contracts. If we fail to do this, our beloved country will head down a very dangerous road. Our government is not for sale.

2012

Heinz's campaign website listed the following issues:

  • Healthcare
Excerpt: "Regardless of the verdict in Supreme Court case over the Affordable Healthcare Act, improving the health care system will always be at the top of the legislative agenda. With the number of uninsured and uninsurable in the private market, physicians and healthcare providers are best equipped to inform the process."
  • Jobs
Excerpt: "Matt Heinz has seen first-hand how Southern Arizona has suffered through this recession. Any jobs strategy will need strong partnerships among businesses, labor, and elected leaders. Matt Heinz’s proven record of problem-solving as both a doctor and constructive bipartisan leader in the statehouse will enable him to get things done for Southern Arizona."
  • Border Security
Excerpt: "A lack of legal channels for entry, a booming drug trade and the impossibility of creating a physical barrier between Arizona and Mexico necessitate new approaches to immigration issues that recognize that this is a bi-partisan issue of law enforcement."
  • Education
Excerpt: "I will work to ensure sufficient and equitable funding for our schools. We need to reverse the damage of the 10’s of billions of dollars in reductions the GOP has implemented in education funding, as well as the $2.2 billion cuts at the state level. While government needs to be trimmed, current austerity measures ensure a poorly prepared and under-educated workforce, reducing our ability to compete in an increasingly level global economy."
  • Veterans and Military Personnel
Excerpt: "We need to protect our military installations that are vital both to the local economy and national security. Davis Monthan's airforce assets have proven invaluable in our national defense over the last decade and the Army Intelligence School at Ft. Huachuca is needed more than ever as we enter into an era of warfare where our enemies are often not states but decentralized, secret organizations that conventional forces alone cannot defeat."

Campaign finance summary


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.


Matt Heinz campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2018U.S. House Arizona District 2Lost primary$1,013,517 $1,013,017
Grand total$1,013,517 $1,013,017
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

State legislative tenure

Scorecards

Goldwater Institute

See also: Goldwater Institute's Legislative Report Card (2012)

The Goldwater Institute releases its "Legislative Report Card" annually for all Arizona legislators. This report card tracks how legislators voted on key votes and assigns them a letter grade based on how closely their votes agree with the Institute's positions. The primary values emphasized in the ratings are whether votes expand or restrict liberty.[13]

2012

Heinz received a score of 40 out of 100 in the 2012 report card for a grade of D- according to the Goldwater Institute’s grading scale. This score was 8 higher than his score on the 2011 report card. Heinz’s 40 in 2012 was tied for the 47th highest grade among all 60 Arizona State Representatives.[13]

Heinz's sponsored bills include:

  • HB 2219 - legislators; disclosure of interest
  • HB 2519 - pseudoephedrine products; pharmacies
  • HB 2520 - salvia divinorum; unlawful acts
  • HB 2544 - schools; sex education

For a full listed of sponsored bills see the House website.

Committee assignments

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Heinz served on these committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Heinz served on these committees:

See also


External links

Footnotes