Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey

Matthew Dawson (Michigan)

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
BP-Initials-UPDATED.png
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Matthew Dawson
Image of Matthew Dawson

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Saginaw Valley State University, 2015

Personal
Birthplace
Midland, Mich.
Profession
Cannabis Farmer
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Matthew Dawson (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 95. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Dawson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Elections

2022

See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 95

Bill G. Schuette defeated Matthew Dawson in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 95 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Bill G. Schuette
Bill G. Schuette (R)
 
60.6
 
26,718
Image of Matthew Dawson
Matthew Dawson (D) Candidate Connection
 
39.4
 
17,379

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

Total votes: 44,097
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.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 95

Matthew Dawson defeated Larry Grell in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 95 on August 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Matthew Dawson
Matthew Dawson Candidate Connection
 
70.1
 
3,513
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Larry Grell
 
29.9
 
1,499

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

Total votes: 5,012
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.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 95

Bill G. Schuette defeated Ann Manary and Charles McGinnis Jr. in the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 95 on August 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Bill G. Schuette
Bill G. Schuette
 
64.1
 
10,556
Image of Ann Manary
Ann Manary
 
30.9
 
5,099
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Charles McGinnis Jr.
 
5.0
 
822

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

Total votes: 16,477
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.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign finance

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Matthew Dawson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dawson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I am a working class, cannabis loving, middle class raised progressive from the heart of Mid-Michigan. I believe that the best way for our state to grow is to support and create an environment where the working class can thrive and succeed, and if elected I will support legislation to do just that.
  • I will and do advocate for lower taxes and support efforts for higher wages amongst lower income households.
  • I will support efforts to expand healthcare coverage, and believe in offering a public option that will offer an alternative to standard insurance without eliminating it.
  • I believe to create a stronger future we need to invest in our future. That means infrastructure, education, and protecting our natural resources to ensure they will be there for the next generation and generations to come.
I am personally passionate about access to healthcare, as I lost my father to a preventable issue that he was unaware of because he couldn't afford healthcare. I am also passionate about cannabis legalization and expanding its availability, as its efficacy for mental and physical health cannot be denied, as well as its ability to bring in consumers and tax dollars for the state. Finally, I am passionate about education. I myself originally went to school to become a teacher and I have seen first hands the issues facing modern educators.
In current politics, my biggest inspiration is John Fetterman. He has helped the Democratic Party realize that they need to reconnect with the working class and focus on fighting for them by holding those accountable that are profiting off of their work.
The West Wing. It wasn't always perfect, but the ability to work with others with respect first and foremost is something that I think has been missing in politics for a long time and could be of great value.
1. An ability to say no to corporate donors and stand up for what is right/actually represent their constituents.

2. A desire, when applicable, to reach across the aisle to get legislation passed.

3. A connection to the working class, as it makes up the bulk of constituents.
I am reliable, amiable, and pride myself on my ability to build relationships and help make connections with others.
Listening to your voters, being a good communicator, and being willing to be flexible and adjust to any changes that occur.
I would simply like people's lives to be better off than they were when I began, whether they attribute it to my efforts or not.
The earliest historical event that I remember would most likely be 9/11. I still remember being in art class when our principal came over the speaker to announce what had happened. Some of the day is fuzzy, but I still remember watching the news coverage and talking with my parents about what was happening. At the time I was 11 years old.
My first job (outside of some seasonal work) was with Taco Bell when I was in high school. I worked there for about four years full time before moving onto a different position. My first professional job was with Deloitte & Touche as a business consultant. I traveled the country for four years before winding down due to the pandemic, which is what led to my departure from Deloitte.
Probably "The Great Gatsby." That period in history is of extreme interest to me, and its connection points to both history and literature are too good for me not to come back to.
I would want to be one of the characters on "Succession," if only to completely break off from the family and use some of that fortune to accomplish good in the world.
Probably "abcdefu" by GAYLE. It is way too catchy.
A couple of years ago I lost my father unexpectedly. This was a massive wake up call for me to re-evaluate where I was and where I was going in life, and the importance of loved ones and family. It has led to me being more introspective, thoughtful, and open to ideas.
The relationship should be one of respect and a willingness to cooperate, while also not being afraid to point out inconsistencies and hold each other accountable. The role of government is to govern the people to the best of their ability and do so while remaining a true representative of what the people want. If either side is allowing that to fall, then it is the responsibility of the other to point it out (respectfully, of course) and try to work towards a solution.
I believe the Midwest, and Michigan in particular, is going to see a population increase. Increased costs of living in urban areas, as well as expanded remote working, and a shift in climate all lead me to believe this region is ripe for a migration of people from more expensive and urban areas. I believe, as such, we need to invest in our infrastructure and protect our natural resources to ensure that we can handle the influx as well as protect ourselves for future generations.
The benefits of a unicameral state legislature are that it allows for quicker, more efficient law passing. The downsides are that it removes a check/balance from the legislature. Overall, I believe that if we can elect more candidates that actually believe in representing their constituents and compromise, it is an unnecessary move that would not bring enough benefits to take the risk at this time.
I believe a passion for government and politics is more beneficial, however prior experience will be of assistance in most cases, if only because it allows for more understanding of how the mechanisms work.
Building relationships with coworkers is always a good business practice. In terms of government I believe it is a necessity if you intend to try and negotiate at any point with others, both in and outside of your own party.
I support a bipartisan committee that takes their time and takes many factors into consideration, with open meetings for comments and concerns, and for the sake of clarity. The process should be given a fair amount of time, so that nothing is rushed or done haphazardly. I do believe the state legislature and governor should have as little influence over the committee as possible, so as to not imply any preferential treatment one way or the other.
I would be open to any and all opportunities afforded me.
N/A
I don't look to any one modern legislator for how I would want to be. I believe modern politics have become way too tied into party loyalty. If anyone, I would point to Bernie Sanders, who typically votes Democrat but remains independent for the most part and isn't afraid to vote with Republicans if he feels it's the right thing to do.
I would never close off any opportunities, and if the right situation came up and I thought I could be of service, I would run for any office applicable.
I have heard stories of people using cannabis to get off of opioid dependencies, which both makes me happy to see someone reclaiming their lives and sad knowing that others still won't because of ill conceived stigmas built by years of negative PR.
Two muffins are sitting in an oven. One turns to the other and goes, "man, is it just me or is it getting hot in here?"

The other screams and exclaims "OH MY GOD, A TALKING MUFFIN!"

It's stupid, sure, but it makes me smile every time.
The legislature should have the ability to override emergency powers to ensure they are not abused.
I believe compromise and conversations with those who disagree with you is a key skill to have not just in politics, but in life. I would bring that ideal with me into office. While I believe there is a difference in compromise and surrendering an important sticking point, I also believe if we refuse to compromise nothing gets done. Case in point; the modern state legislature in Michigan.

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

2022 Elections

Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
What's on the ballot?
U.S. Congress
U.S. Congress special elections
State executives
State legislatures
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
School boards
Election analysis hub

Government

Seal of Michigan.png
Who represents me?
U.S. Congress
State executives
State legislators
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
School boards

Newsletters

Ballotpedia RSS.jpg
The Heart of the Primaries
The Daily Brew
The Weekly Brew
The Ballot Bulletin
Checks and Balances
Economy and Society
Hall Pass
Number of the Day
Robe & Gavel
Union Station


External links

Candidate

Michigan House of Representatives District 95
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
    		•

    Personal

  • LinkedIn
    		•

    Footnotes


    Current members of the Michigan House of Representatives
    Leadership
    Speaker of the House:Matt Hall
    Minority Leader:Ranjeev Puri
    Representatives
    District 1
    District 2
    District 3
    District 4
    District 5
    District 6
    District 7
    District 8
    District 9
    District 10
    District 11
    District 12
    District 13
    Mai Xiong (D)
    District 14
    District 15
    District 16
    District 17
    District 18
    District 19
    District 20
    District 21
    District 22
    District 23
    District 24
    District 25
    District 26
    District 27
    District 28
    District 29
    District 30
    District 31
    District 32
    District 33
    District 34
    District 35
    District 36
    District 37
    District 38
    District 39
    District 40
    District 41
    District 42
    Matt Hall (R)
    District 43
    District 44
    District 45
    District 46
    District 47
    District 48
    District 49
    District 50
    District 51
    District 52
    District 53
    District 54
    District 55
    District 56
    District 57
    District 58
    District 59
    District 60
    District 61
    District 62
    District 63
    District 64
    District 65
    District 66
    District 67
    District 68
    District 69
    District 70
    District 71
    District 72
    District 73
    District 74
    Kara Hope (D)
    District 75
    District 76
    District 77
    District 78
    District 79
    District 80
    District 81
    District 82
    District 83
    District 84
    District 85
    District 86
    District 87
    District 88
    District 89
    District 90
    District 91
    District 92
    District 93
    Tim Kelly (R)
    District 94
    District 95
    District 96
    District 97
    District 98
    District 99
    District 100
    Tom Kunse (R)
    District 101
    District 102
    District 103
    District 104
    John Roth (R)
    District 105
    District 106
    District 107
    District 108
    District 109
    District 110
    Republican Party (58)
    Democratic Party (52)


    Flag of Michigan
    v • e
    State of Michigan
    Lansing (capital)
    Elections

    What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

    Government

    Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy


    Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Matthew_Dawson_(Michigan)&oldid=9795402"