Matt Woodside

Republican Party

Last updated August 30, 2026Is this you? Claim this profile

What is Matt Woodside running for?

Race: Florida State House District 31
Party: Republican Party

Matt Woodside is a lifelong Brevard County resident, educator, coach, and athletic director running for the Florida House. Born in 1982 in Rockledge, Florida, the son of an aerospace engineer and a longtime Brevard Public Schools educator, he graduated from Merritt Island High School in 2000 and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida in 2005. Since 2006 he has worked at the same Brevard Public School as an educator, coach, athletic director, and mentor, and he is an active member of First Baptist Church of Merritt Island. He led a 2021–2023 effort against school gender policies and campaigns on faith, family, and freedom, emphasizing education, parental rights, public safety, and economic growth.

Where does Matt Woodside stand on the issues?

Matt Woodside has a recorded position on 17 issues. Each is Civoren's summary of the campaign's own public material, with the source linked.

Affordable Housing
Supports
Woodside pledges to make housing more affordable on the Space Coast by streamlining zoning, increasing the homestead exemption, and reducing insurance premiums.
“Rising costs are pricing families out of our community, and I'll fight to change that. I'm committed to fueling Space Coast prosperity by making housing more affordable for our residents. I will support streamlining zoning regulations, increasing homestead exemption, and enhanced tort reform and a streamlined process for new insurance companies entering the market to drive down insurance premiums.”
woodsideforflorida.com
Economic Development & Growth
Supports
Woodside pledges to strengthen the Space Coast's space industry through infrastructure, research, and workforce investment, and to expand STEM programs in Brevard schools.
“I will champion policies to strengthen this industry while ensuring our K-12 students are prepared to lead its future. I will advocate for targeted investments to support space-related infrastructure, research, and workforce development, seek to streamline regulations for new companies looking for a home on the Space Coast, and push for state funding and policies to expand STEM programs in Brevard Public Schools.”
woodsideforflorida.com
Election Integrity & Administration
Supports
Woodside pledges to protect election integrity by maintaining robust voter ID and verification, increasing public access to election audits, and opposing measures that weaken ballot security.
“I will champion policies within the Florida House to protect election integrity. We must maintain robust voter ID and verification processes. I will also support measures to increase public access to election audits and reporting and will oppose any proposals that weaken ballot security.”
woodsideforflorida.com
Environment & Sustainability
Supports
Woodside pledges to protect the Space Coast's waterways, combat pollution harming the Indian River Lagoon, and increase funding for water quality initiatives.
“Our waterways are vital to the Space Coast's way of life, economy, and natural beauty and must be safeguarded from harmful practices… I will advocate for legislation to combat pollution and harmful development practices impacting the Indian River lagoon and other waterways, push for increased funding for water quality initiatives, and support state partnerships with Brevard County to enhance conservation efforts and protect our ecosystems.”
woodsideforflorida.com
Fiscal Responsibility & Budgeting
Supports
Woodside pledges to uphold conservative budgeting, reserves, and debt reduction to continue Florida's fiscal responsibility.
“Driven by conservative principles of disciplined budgeting, substantial reserves, and aggressive debt reduction, earning us top-tier AAA credit ratings, Florida stands as a national leader in fiscal responsibility. I will work to uphold these conservative values and continue Florida's fiscal excellence to ensure a thriving economy for future generations.”
woodsideforflorida.com
Gun Policy & Second Amendment
Supports
Woodside, a lifetime NRA member, pledges to protect and strengthen Second Amendment rights, including pushing for constitutional carry.
“As a lifetime member of the NRA, I will work tirelessly within the Florida House to protect and strengthen our Second Amendment rights, including pushing for Constitutional Carry.”
woodsideforflorida.com
Immigration
Supports
Woodside supports strengthening border security and policies that prioritize essential services for legal residents.
“I believe a secure border is essential to protect the safety, security, and access to vital resources for citizens. I will champion policies within the Florida House to strengthen border security. I will support legislation that bolsters Florida's cooperation with federal border patrol agencies and support policies to ensure essential services are prioritized for legal residents.”
woodsideforflorida.com
K-12 Education
Supports
Woodside pledges to boost school funding, restore classroom order and accountability, and keep schools free of activism and indoctrination.
“Florida ranks near the bottom nationally in the percentage of its state budget dedicated to education. As your state representative, I will champion policies to boost school funding, expand access to trade and space-focused programs… Classrooms must foster knowledge and critical thinking, not indoctrination… I will work within the Florida House to champion policies that restore order and prioritize learning.”
woodsideforflorida.com
Law Enforcement & First Responders
Supports
Woodside pledges to stand with law enforcement officers and first responders and advocate for the resources and support they need.
“I am committed to standing with our law enforcement officers and first responders, who risk their lives every day to protect and serve the Space Coast… I will work within the Florida House to advocate for policies that empower our first responders to serve safely and effectively with the resources and support they need and deserve.”
woodsideforflorida.com
LGBTQ+ Rights
Opposes
Woodside opposes what he calls 'harmful gender policies' in schools and says he will work to ensure strict enforcement of Florida laws concerning gender and sexuality in classrooms, prioritizing 'learning over ideology.'
“As an educator who has fought against harmful gender policies in our schools, I am committed to restoring trust in education by advocating for stricter enforcement of Florida's laws to ensure classrooms prioritize learning over ideology… I will continue to guard against harmful gender policies, working with the Office of Parental Rights to ensure strict enforcement of Florida laws concerning gender and sexuality.”
woodsideforflorida.com
Limited Government & Individual Liberty
Supports
Woodside supports limited government that protects individual liberty, citing COVID-19-era overreach as government trampling citizens' rights.
“I believe the best government is a limited one-one that protects individual liberty without overstepping its bounds. Governmental overreach, as witnessed during the COVID-19 era, too often tramples on citizens' rights and fosters unhealthy dependence on the state.”
woodsideforflorida.com
Parental Rights in Education
Supports
Woodside campaigns as a 'champion for parental rights,' pledging to strengthen opt-out options and increase curriculum and instructional transparency so parents control what their children learn in school.
“Parents are the primary stakeholders in their children's education and deserve a permanent voice in shaping it. Parents must have transparency and control over what their children learn and experience in our schools. I will work within the Florida House and partner with the Office of Parental Rights to continue championing policies that strengthen parental rights, including strengthening opt-out options and increasing curriculum and instructional transparency.”
woodsideforflorida.com
Religious Liberty
Supports
Woodside pledges to protect the right to worship freely, which he calls a foundational pillar of American freedom.
“I am committed to protecting one of our nation's foundational pillars: the right to worship freely. Religious liberty, a cornerstone of our freedom, faces increasing threats nationwide from overreaching government policies.”
woodsideforflorida.com
Reproductive Rights & Abortion
Opposes
Woodside is pro-life and pledges to advance policies that strengthen protections for the unborn, pursue personhood recognition, and support life-affirming resources.
“As a Christian, I believe that every human life, from the moment of conception, is an intentional miracle… I will fight tirelessly to advance pro-life policies including strengthening protections for the unborn, pursuing personhood recognition, and supporting life-affirming resources.”
woodsideforflorida.com
School Choice & Education Funding Options
Supports
Woodside supports expanding school choice and homeschool freedom, arguing parents have the fundamental right to choose how and where their children are educated.
“I firmly believe parents have the fundamental right to choose how and where their children are educated-whether in public schools, private institutions, or through homeschooling… I will work within the Florida House to support policies that empower parents, including advocating to strengthen and expand school choice programs and partnering with parents to increase homeschool freedom.”
woodsideforflorida.com
Small Business & Local Business Support
Supports
Woodside pledges to support small businesses through streamlined regulations, lower tax barriers, and state grants and training programs.
“I'm committed to fueling Space Coast prosperity by empowering our small businesses, the backbone of our strong community. I will support streamlined regulations, lower tax barriers, and state grants and training programs to boost small business competitiveness.”
woodsideforflorida.com
Teachers & School Staff
Supports
Woodside pledges to raise teacher pay, noting Florida ranks 50th nationally in average teacher salary, to attract and retain quality educators.
“Despite recent pay increases for new teachers, Florida ranks 50th nationally in average teacher salary, ahead only of West Virginia, according to 2025 data… I am committed to reversing this trend to ensure our schools attract and retain top-quality educators.”
woodsideforflorida.com

Education

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Endorsements for Matt Woodside

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Support for Matt Woodside · 9/15/2026

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Past Elections

Past Campaign

Florida State House District 31

Primary election

Florida State House District 31, FLEnded 8/18/2026· Republican Party

Past campaign details are available on the full race page.

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Contact

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Others Running in This Election

DC
Daniel CicirelliDemocratic Party
Candidate for Florida House of Representatives
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View All Candidates Running for Florida State House District 31View full race

What is Matt Woodside running for?

Where does Matt Woodside stand on the issues?

Affordable Housing

Economic Development & Growth

Election Integrity & Administration

Environment & Sustainability

Fiscal Responsibility & Budgeting

Gun Policy & Second Amendment

Immigration

K-12 Education

Law Enforcement & First Responders

LGBTQ+ Rights

Limited Government & Individual Liberty

Parental Rights in Education

Religious Liberty

Reproductive Rights & Abortion

School Choice & Education Funding Options

Small Business & Local Business Support

Teachers & School Staff