Matthew Heilman

Matthew Heilman
Member of the North Dakota House of Representatives from the 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 1, 2022
Preceded by	Rick Becker
Personal details
Born	(2001-07-19) July 19, 2001 (age 23) Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Residence(s)	Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
Alma mater	Bismarck State College

Matthew Heilman (born July 19, 2001) is an American politician who is a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 7th district. His district comprises part of Burleigh County.

Education and early career

Heilman graduated from Bismarck State College (BSC) in North Dakota. Prior to his election, he served as the founder and president of the BSC chapter of Turning Point USA, as well as a precinct committeeman for the District 7 Republicans.[1]

Politics

On January 10, 2022, Heilman announced his candidacy in the 2022 election to represent the 7th district in the North Dakota House of Representatives, citing the prevention and elimination of employer-instituted vaccine mandates as his primary motivation.[1] He won the Republican primary with 34.7% of the vote and won the general election unopposed.[2]

In July 2022, Heilman spoke at the far-right State of the Movement conference presented by Vince Dao's organization, American Virtue.[3]

In August 2022, Heilman was revealed to be a member of a Telegram group called the North Dakota Young Republicans which "frequently featured bigoted slurs and white supremacist tropes" in its messages between members, including personal attacks against gay public figures and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.[4]

In December 2022, Heilman re-Tweeted a post calling the Jewish President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the "anti-Christ" for "actively [persecuting] Russian and Ukrainian Christians.[5]

Heilman routinely shares, likes, and interacts with online content shared by white nationalists.[6]

Political positions

Education policy

Heilman supports House Bill 1494, aimed at making school meals more accessible to students.[7]

Gun rights

Heilman introduced HB 1404, a bill to allow university students to carry weapons on campus, stating, "If [students] were carrying, it would be a great deterrent for people who want to commit violent acts against them".[8]

Immigration

Heilman opposes sanctuary cities, supporting a bill that would ban them in North Dakota. He stated that this was a proactive measure to prevent what he called "utter disarray" at the southern border from coming to North Dakota.[9]

Heilman has called for an end to birthright citizenship,[10] supported mass deportations,[11] and called the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 "awful".[12]

Personal life

Heilman was an Eagle Scout.[13]

References

1. Demme, Greg (January 10, 2022). "Matt Heilman Throws Hat into Already Crowded Ring". The Dakotan. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
2. "Matthew Heilman". Ballotpedia.
3. Lorber, Ben (July 28, 2022). "At American Virtue Summit, Gen-Z White Nationalists and GOP Candidates Plot the Right's Future". Political Research Associates. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
4. Port, Rob (August 19, 2022). "Republican message group posted slurs while candidates, activists, and elected officials looked on". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
5. Port, Rob (April 10, 2023). "It's a travesty what the Trump era is doing to young Republicans". Jamestown Sun. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
6. "North Dakota Lawmakers Share Far-Right, White Nationalist Content On X". anarchistfederation.net. January 22, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
7. Crane, Joel (February 13, 2023). "Bill geared toward more accessible school meals passes ND House". Valley News Live. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
8. Crane, Joel (January 28, 2023). "ND lawmakers consider bills to expand gun rights". KFYR-TV. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
9. Crane, Joel (January 13, 2023). "Bill would outlaw sanctuary cities in North Dakota". KFYR-TV. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
10. @MattHeilman7 (October 1, 2023). "End birthright citizenship" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
11. @MattHeilman7 (September 29, 2023). "We need mass deportations" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
12. @MattHeilman7 (December 15, 2022). "The 1965 immigration act was awful" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
13. "Representative Matt Heilman". North Dakota House of Representatives. Retrieved September 7, 2024.