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Matthew Heilman

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

Heilman is a member of the far-right faction of the Republican Party,[a] frequently espousing extremist views on immigration, LGBTQ rights, and abortion.[5]

Education and early career

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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.[6]

Politics

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Elections

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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.[6] He won the Republican primary with 34.7% of the vote and won the general election unopposed.[7]

Tenure

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In July 2022, Heilman spoke at the far-right State of the Movement conference presented by Vince Dao's organization, American Virtue.[1]

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.[2]

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.[8]

During the 2025 legislative session, Heilman was the primary sponsor of the second-most amount of bills with 17, of which three passed.[9]

Heilman routinely shares, likes, and interacts with online content shared by white nationalists.[10]

Political positions

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Education policy

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Heilman supported House Bill 1494, which aimed at making school meals more accessible to students and overwhelmingly passed into law.[11]

In March 2023, while speaking in support of a bill, Heilman claimed that "at different universities throughout the state, [students have] had professors telling them that white people should feel guilty about past treatment of slaves or Native Americans".[12]

Gun rights

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Heilman introduced House Bill 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".[13]

In January 2025, Heilman proposed House Bill 1411, which sought to ban the use of red flag laws.[14]

Immigration

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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.[15]

Heilman has called for an end to birthright citizenship,[16] supported mass deportations,[17] and called the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 "awful".[18]

LGBTQ rights

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During the 2023 legislative session, Heilman voted in favor of every anti-LGBTQ bill proposed.[19]

In January 2025, Heilman co-sponsored House Bill 1430,[20] which sought to legalize conversion therapy, drawing criticism from both sides of the aisle.[21]

Personal life

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Heilman was an Eagle Scout.[22]

Notes

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  1. ^ [1][2][3][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b 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.
  2. ^ a b 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.
  3. ^ Port, Rob (March 21, 2024). "Politics from the pulpit is alive and well in North Dakota church". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  4. ^ Port, Rob (July 15, 2024). "Some North Dakota Republican convention delegates may protest if Trump names Burgum as VP". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  5. ^ Mantyla, Kyle (January 22, 2024). "Right Wing Round-Up: The War On Woke". Right Wing Watch. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Demme, Greg (January 10, 2022). "Matt Heilman Throws Hat into Already Crowded Ring". The Dakotan. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "Matthew Heilman". Ballotpedia.
  8. ^ Port, Rob (April 10, 2023). "It's a travesty what the Trump era is doing to young Republicans". Jamestown Sun. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  9. ^ Wenzel, Korrie (May 9, 2025). "Of the 1,089 bills in North Dakota Legislature, who introduced the most?". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  10. ^ "North Dakota Lawmakers Share Far-Right, White Nationalist Content On X". Angry White Men: Tracking White Supremacy. January 21, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  11. ^ Crane, Joel (February 13, 2023). "Bill geared toward more accessible school meals passes ND House". Valley News Live. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  12. ^ Hoverson, Lydia (March 28, 2023). "House Passes Ban on Penalization Based on 'Divisive Concepts'". The Dakotan. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  13. ^ Crane, Joel (January 28, 2023). "ND lawmakers consider bills to expand gun rights". KFYR-TV. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  14. ^ Baumgarten, April (January 30, 2025). "North Dakota bill would ban red flag laws". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  15. ^ Crane, Joel (January 13, 2023). "Bill would outlaw sanctuary cities in North Dakota". KFYR-TV. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  16. ^ @MattHeilman7 (October 1, 2023). "End birthright citizenship" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ^ @MattHeilman7 (September 29, 2023). "We need mass deportations" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ @MattHeilman7 (December 15, 2022). "The 1965 immigration act was awful" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ Seidler, Faye (July 27, 2023). "Those Pushing Transgender Bills in North Dakota". High Plains Reader. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  20. ^ "ND HB1430 | 2025-2026 | 69th Legislative Assembly". LegiScan. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  21. ^ Steurer, Mary (March 27, 2025). "North Dakota Senate defeats amended conversion therapy bill". North Dakota Monitor. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  22. ^ "Representative Matt Heilman". North Dakota House of Representatives. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
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