Matt Bliss
Matt Bliss | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office January 5, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | John Persell |
| Constituency | District 2B (2023–present) District 5A (2021–2023) |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 7, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | John Persell |
| Succeeded by | John Persell |
| Constituency | District 5A (2017–2019) |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Christine (died of cancer) Emily |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | United States Navy |
| Occupation | |
| Website | Government website Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States Navy |
| Unit | Communications and electronics |
Matt Bliss is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2021, who also served from 2017 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Bliss represents District 2B in northern Minnesota, which includes parts of Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, and Mahnomen Counties.[1]
Early life, education, and career
Bliss was raised on a farm and is one of ten siblings. He joined the Navy after high school and was trained in communications and electronics.[2]
Bliss owns Bliss Point Resort along Cass Lake and worked as an IT director for the Red Lake Nation.[3] He was the president of the Pennington Resort Association.[4]
Bliss ran unsuccessfully for the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners in 2014.[5]
Minnesota House of Representatives
Bliss was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016. He defeated four-term DFL incumbent John Persell. In 2018, Bliss lost to Persell by 11 votes.[3][6] A state-mandated recount confirmed Persell's victory.[7] In 2020, Bliss once again defeated Persell, and was reelected in 2022.[1] Bliss criticized Persell for his co-authorship of a red-flag gun control proposal and Democrats for defunding the police, though Persell stated he advocated for more public safety funding.[8]
Bliss co-chairs the Veteran and Military Affairs Committee and sits on the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committees.[1]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Bliss | 10,318 | 53.88 | |||
| Democratic (DFL) | John Persell | 8,808 | 45.99 | |||
| Write-in | 25 | 0.13 | ||||
| Total votes | 19,151 | 100.0 | ||||
| Republican gain from Democratic (DFL) | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | John Persell | 8,454 | 50.01 | |||
| Republican | Matt Bliss | 8,443 | 49.95 | |||
| Write-in | 7 | 0.04 | ||||
| Total votes | 16,904 | 100.0 | ||||
| Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Bliss | 11,482 | 53.37 | |||
| Democratic (DFL) | John Persell | 9,996 | 46.46 | |||
| Write-in | 36 | 0.17 | ||||
| Total votes | 21,514 | 100.0 | ||||
| Republican gain from Democratic (DFL) | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Bliss | 11,310 | 63.46 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Erika Bailey-Johnson | 6,505 | 36.50 | |
| Write-in | 8 | 0.04 | ||
| Total votes | 17,823 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Bliss | 14,372 | 63.73 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Michael Reyes | 8,168 | 36.22 | |
| Write-in | 10 | 0.04 | ||
| Total votes | 22,550 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Personal life
Bliss lives in Pennington, Minnesota with his wife Emily, and has four children.[1] He was previously married to Christine until she died of cancer. He is a member of the Minnesota Deer Hunters’ Association, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and the Ruffed Grouse Society.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d "Bliss, Matt". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
- ^ a b "Matt Bliss announces plans to run for House dist. 5A". The Pilot-Independent. Adams Publishing Group. August 18, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
- ^ a b Van Berkel, Jessie (November 17, 2018). "Recount likely for Bemidji House seat". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ^ "ELECTION 2016: District 5A: Bliss defeats incumbent Persell". Brainerd Dispatch. November 9, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
- ^ Liedke, Matthew (August 7, 2015). "Bliss enters 2016 race for Minnesota House 5A seat". The Bemidji Pioneer. Forum Communications. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
- ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (December 5, 2018). "Bemidji Democrat John Persell holds on to beat Rep. Matt Bliss in state House recount". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ^ Bierschbach, Briana (December 5, 2018). "Recount pending in suburban state House race". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Orenstein, Walker (2020-11-16). "What the results from a seesaw political rivalry in Bemidji says about the 2020 election". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ "2016 Results for State Representative District 5A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ "2018 Results for State Representative District 5A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 5A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 2B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ "Results for All State Representative Races". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved 18 November 2024.