Matt Gress

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

I’m proud to be endorsed by some of our community’s most respected law enforcement organizations: Arizona State Troopers, the Arizona Police Association, the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, the Professional Firefighters of Arizona. I’ll say NO to “Defund the Police” efforts, and make sure we fully fund and support our law enforcement professionals. Learn more

Economy

As your next representative, I will propose and support fiscally responsible legislation that fights inflation, reduces the cost of living, cuts back on big government spending, keeps taxes low, and helps small businesses grow. Arizona people are resilient and strong; I promise to cut through red tape to ensure our economy reflects those values. I’m supported in this campaign by our job creators: the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, Arizona Realtors and the Tech Council. Learn more

Education

In Arizona, we are spending the most ever on K-12 education, averaging 300,000 per classroom. Parents and taxpayers want to know: Where’s the money going? And what are kids learning in the classroom? Schools must be more transparent with their budgets, especially at the school-site level, and with curriculum. I support making all school curricula available online for parents and taxpayers to review. Learn more

My “Pay Teachers First Plan” will give every Arizona public school teacher a 10,000 raise – with 100 percent of the new state dollars going directly to the teachers, rather than bureaucracy, and significantly boosting starting teacher pay. As a former teacher, I can tell you – one of the most important factors in the academic development of a child is the teacher at the front of the classroom. We set our students up for success by attracting and retaining amazing teachers. When I was a teacher, I struggled to make ends meet and was out-of-pocket many resources needed for my students. Teachers don’t go into this profession to get rich, but they also aren’t expected to live in poverty, either. Learn more

I support more learning options for parents and kids. Families should get to decide where and how their kids learn. This educational landscape encourages innovation and advances the guiding principle that the size of a family’s wealth must never dictate what educational opportunities are available to them. Learn more

Environment / Energy

It was Barry Goldwater who said he believed in “the right of our people to live in a clean and pollution-free environment.” I wholeheartedly agree and we can do that without sending our economy off a cliff. That’s why I support better forest management to reduce wildfires, state funding for new farming practices and irrigation technologies that save water without taking away the freedom to farm, and research into future innovations that save water and reduce emissions. Learn more

Government Reform

I’m supportive of a constitutional amendment that makes Voter ID requirements permanent and unchangeable, and other measures that strengthen the security of our elections, like increasing the threshold for automatic recounts. Learn more

Guns

I’ll always stand on the side of our United States Constitution. I’m a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, and I’m against government overreach. Learn more

Immigration

The Biden-Harris Administration has abandoned its constitutional responsibilities to protect America's southern border, leaving this area in crisis. I’ll stand for the rule of law, and support more resources for our border sheriffs, state troopers, and the National Guard. Learn more

Social Services

Our state also has the obligation to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, especially the vulnerable and elderly. Learn more