Matt McCary

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

Matt McCary

Libertarian Party

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Matt McCary (Libertarian Party) ran for election to the Florida State Senate to represent District 5. He was disqualified from the Libertarian Party primary scheduled on August 18, 2020.

McCary completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.

Elections

2020

See also: Florida State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Florida State Senate District 5

Jennifer Bradley defeated Stacey Peters in the general election for Florida State Senate District 5 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer Bradley (R)	74.8	194,198
	Submit photo	Stacey Peters (D)	25.2	65,568

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 259,766
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Melina Rayna Barratt (D)

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Melina Rayna Barratt advanced from the Democratic primary for Florida State Senate District 5.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Florida State Senate District 5

Jennifer Bradley defeated Jason Holifield in the Republican primary for Florida State Senate District 5 on August 18, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer Bradley	59.0	47,395
		Jason Holifield	41.0	32,944

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 80,339
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Matt McCary (L)

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Matt McCary completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by McCary's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Healthcare

Gun Rights & Ownership
Business Regulations

Taxation

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Healthcare and public welfare programs. Healthcare affects both the economy and your quality of life. There needs to be improvements made in Florida with regard to healthcare access as well as affordability. Additionally, we need to increase access to prevention and treatment. Some welfare programs need to be reviewed and overhauled - or terminated entirely. Some welfare programs continue to be abused at the expense of tax payers and businesses; these programs should be reviewed to ensure they are meeting the needs of those they were intended to serve and that the tax burden is not passed down to individuals or businesses.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My dad. He is a level-headed man of action, integrity, and honesty. He's a smart negotiator and broker of peace. I could want nothing more than to be like him.

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

I believe elected officials should be compassionate and empathetic. Government (and elected officials) derive their powers from the consent of the governed. Those who elect us do so out of the belief we have their best interests at heart and will fight for them. As an elected official, we must be able to empathize with those we represent and understand their concerns wholeheartedly. If elected officials cannot connect on a personal level with constituents, don't care about them, or don't even make an effort - then how can we say they have our true and best interests in mind or that they can understand them.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am an educated, level-headed, and honest man of action. I don't mind making hard decisions, even if they are unpopular. I always try to find an end result where everyone comes out a winner. I choose peace over conflict and choose to partner with those who may even disagree with me for the betterment of the whole, while still remaining firm on my values and philosophies. I have held elected positions and have worked with friends, neighbors, allies, foes, and other elected officials to get results. I believe the power is with the people.

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

My first job was as a buffet food running at a casino hotel in Biloxi, MS. I worked there for about year.

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

Halloween, although not considered a "holiday" would be my favorite time of year because the leaves change and the air changes. Halloween ushers in the beginning of the festive and harvest season. I spent seven years in South Dakota as a child, those were some of my most memorable years.

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

My most favorite thing in my home is not a material object. It is best friend, Bree. She's a Boston Terrier.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Head over Heels, by The Go-Go's

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Being judged for who I love and not on the merit of my character. Equal rights under the law.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes, I believe it is beneficial for state legislators to have prior experience in government or politics; however, I do not believe it is or ever should be a requirement or a determining factor.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely. Relationships must be built with other legislators regardless of their party affiliation. We all have something in common, some kind of common ground. We can use those commonalities to help us do the work of the people. I believe this is true in both a professional atmosphere, socially, and in the legislature. Relationships must be built, maximized, and maintained.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

N/A Not a current legislator.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Yes, US Senate.

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.

See also

2020 Elections

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Footnotes

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Current members of the Florida State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:Ben Albritton

Majority Leader:Jim Boyd

Senators

District 1

Don Gaetz (R)

District 2

Jay Trumbull (R)

District 3

Corey Simon (R)

District 4

Clay Yarborough (R)

District 5

Tracie Davis (D)

District 6

Jennifer Bradley (R)

District 7

Tom Leek (R)

District 8

Tom Wright (R)

District 9

Stan McClain (R)

District 10

Jason Brodeur (R)

District 11

Vacant

District 12

Colleen Burton (R)

District 13

Keith Truenow (R)

District 14

Vacant

District 15

LaVon Bracy Davis (D)

District 16

Darryl Rouson (D)

District 17

Carlos Smith (D)

District 18

Nick DiCeglie (R)

District 19

Debbie Mayfield (R)

District 20

Jim Boyd (R)

District 21

Ed Hooper (R)

District 22

Joe Gruters (R)

District 23

Daniel Burgess (R)

District 24

Mack Bernard (D)

District 25

Kristen Arrington (D)

District 26

Lori Berman (D)

District 27

Ben Albritton (R)

District 28

Kathleen Passidomo (R)

District 29

Erin Grall (R)

District 30

Tina Polsky (D)

District 31

Gayle Harrell (R)

District 32

Rosalind Osgood (D)

District 33

Jonathan Martin (R)

District 34

Shevrin Jones (D)

District 35

Barbara Sharief (D)

District 36

Ileana Garcia (R)

District 37

Jason Pizzo (N)

District 38

Alexis Calatayud (R)

District 39

Bryan Avila (R)

District 40

Ana Rodriguez (R)

Republican Party (26)

Democratic Party (11)

No Party Affiliation (1)

Vacancies (2)