{{short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Matt Maddock | image = Matt Maddock by Gage Skidmore.jpg | caption = Maddock in 2024 | office = Member of the Michigan House of Representatives | term_start = January 1, 2019 | term_end = | predecessor = Jim Runestad | successor = | constituency = 44th district (2019–2022)<br>51st district (2023–present) | birth_name = | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | spouse = Meshawn Maddock | children = 3 }}
'''Matthew Maddock''' (born December 11, 1965) is an American businessman and politician serving as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives since 2019, currently representing the 51st district.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |url=https://www.legislature.mi.gov/publications/CitizensGuide.pdf |title=Michigan Citizen's Guide to State Government, 2025-2026, 103rd Legislature |publisher=Michigan Legislature |year=2025 |location=Lansing, Michigan |language=en}}</ref><ref name="committee_robinson">{{cite web |url=https://cfrsearch.nictusa.com/committees/518180 |title=Michigan Committee Statement of Organization |publisher=Michigan Secretary of State |access-date=November 15, 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref name="legis" /> He is a member of the Republican Party.<ref name=":02" />
== Career == On November 6, 2018, Maddock was elected to his first term, where he represented the 44th district in the Michigan House of Representatives.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 8, 2018 |title=10 take-aways from the 2018 Michigan primary election |url=https://www.mlive.com/expo/news/erry-2018/08/cb358cedce6917/10-takeaways-from-the-2018-mic.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=November 8, 2018 |title=MI-Winners |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/MI-Winners-13374810.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128122625/https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/MI-Winners-13374810.php |archive-date=November 28, 2018 |access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> In his first term, Maddock was appointed to be the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, as well as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. A Republican, Maddock was first elected in 2018. Prior to being elected to the 110-member Michigan House of Representatives, he was a businessman in Oakland County. He was elected to a second term in 2020.<ref name="legis">{{cite web |url=https://mdoe.state.mi.us/legislators/Legislator/LegislatorDetail/5539|title=Legislator Details - Matt Maddock|publisher=Library of Michigan |access-date=August 14, 2022}}</ref>
In 2021, Maddock proposed legislation to require fact-checkers who register with the International Fact Check Network to then register with the state of Michigan and fine them if they engaged in fact-checking without registration.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Michigan GOP lawmaker floats bill to register, fine 'fact checkers'|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2021/05/11/michigan-gop-lawmaker-floats-bill-register-and-fine-fact-checkers/5043399001/|access-date=2021-05-13|website=The Detroit News|language=en}}</ref>
In 2022, after redistricting, Maddock was elected to the 51st district.<ref name="legis" /> Maddock was expelled from the Republican caucus by Speaker Jason Wentworth in April 2022 for allegedly violating confidentiality rules.<ref>{{cite web |last=Oosting |first=Jonathan |date=April 27, 2022 |title=Matt Maddock decries 'mess' after expulsion from Michigan House GOP caucus |url=https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/matt-maddock-decries-mess-after-expulsion-michigan-house-gop-caucus |work=Bridge Michigan}}</ref> Maddock claimed his expulsion was retaliation for his support of Kristina Karamo and Matt DePerno in the Republican primaries. In the next term starting in January 2023, Maddock was re-admitted to the Republican caucus. He was reelected in 2024.<ref name="mich-2024-general-results">{{cite web|title=2024 Michigan Election Results|url=https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/votehistory/Index?type=C&electionDate=11-5-2024|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=November 24, 2024|date=November 22, 2024|url-status=live|archive-date=November 24, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241124174348/https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/votehistory/Index?type=C&electionDate=11-5-2024}}</ref>
===COVID-19=== During the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, Maddock promoted misinformation about the virus.<ref name=Neavling>{{Cite web|last=Neavling|first=Steve|date=28 April 2021|title=Michigan GOP Co-Chair Maddock spreads more lies about COVID-19|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2021/04/28/michigan-gop-co-chair-maddock-spreads-more-lies-about-covid-19|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Detroit Metro Times|language=en|quote=Rep. Matt Maddock, falsely claimed on Facebook in October that "COVID is less lethal than the flu."|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512094948/https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2021/04/28/michigan-gop-co-chair-maddock-spreads-more-lies-about-covid-19}}</ref> In October 2020, Maddock falsely claimed on Facebook that COVID-19 was less lethal than the flu.<ref name=Neavling/> Matt Maddock routinely did not wear a face mask at the Capitol building; his wife, Michigan Republican Party co-chair Meshawn Maddock, made inaccurate claims on social media that the use of face coverings was "ineffective" and "harmful" and suggested that employers be sued over the matter.<ref>Dave Boucher, [https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/27/michigan-gop-leader-misinformation-mask-effectiveness/4860259001/ Michigan GOP leader shares misinformation on masks that suggests suing employers], ''Detroit Free Press'' (April 27, 2021).</ref>
In November 2020, Maddock introduced a resolution to impeach Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer over her COVID-19 shutdown orders; the resolution, introduced during a lame-duck session, did not gain the support of the Republican legislative leadership though the Michigan Supreme Court did rule the shutdown orders illegal a month later.<ref>{{cite web |title=HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 324 |url=https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2019-2020/resolutionintroduced/House/htm/2020-HIR-0324.htm |website=Michigan Legislature |publisher=Michigan Legislative Service Bureau |access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer faces possible impeachment proceedings for 'corrupt conduct' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/michigan-gov-gretchen-whitmer-faces-possible-impeachment-proceedings-for-corrupt-conduct |date=November 18, 2020|first=Caitlin |last=McFall |website=FOX News Channel (FNC) |access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref><ref name="DN_2020-11-18">{{cite news |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/18/whitmer-impeachment-resolution-introduced-but-key-republicans-oppose/3767778001/ |title=Whitmer impeachment resolution introduced, but key Republicans oppose |date=November 18, 2020|first=Craig |last=Mauger |newspaper=The Detroit News |access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref><ref name="mlive_2020-11-18">{{cite news |url=https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/11/michigan-house-speaker-calls-effort-to-impeach-whitmer-as-shameful-as-trump-impeachment.html |title=Michigan House Speaker calls effort to impeach Whitmer as 'shameful' as Trump impeachment |date=September 18, 2020|first=Samuel |last=Dodge |website=mlive.com |access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Bridge_2020-11-19">{{cite news |url=https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/2020-michigan-election-results-voting-polls-proposals-vote |title=Whitmer impeachment resolution dead upon arrival in Michigan Legislature |date=November 19, 2020|author=Bridge Staff |website=Bridge Michigan |publisher=Center for Michigan |access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref>
In April 2021, Matt Maddock was one of a handful of Republican state representatives to appear at a protest opposing COVID-19 vaccine passports.<ref>[https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2021/04/backdoor-to-a-mandate-protesters-republican-lawmakers-oppose-covid-19-vaccine-passports.html 'Backdoor to a mandate': Protesters, Republican lawmakers oppose COVID-19 vaccine passports], ''MLive'' (April 29, 2021).</ref>
===Efforts to overturn 2020 presidential election results=== {{Main|Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election}}
Maddock had promoted the false claim that the 2020 presidential election, in which Donald Trump was defeated by Joe Biden, was marred by election fraud. In November 2020, Maddock and other Trump supporters protested at the TCF Center at Detroit to challenge the counting of votes because they felt the legal process was not being followed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Neavling|first=Steve|date=12 May 2021|title=Rep. Maddock, who peddled lies about election fraud and COVID-19, wants to fine fact-checkers|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2021/05/12/rep-maddock-who-peddled-lies-about-election-fraud-and-covid-19-wants-to-fine-fact-checkers|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Detroit Metro Times|language=en|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512152402/https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2021/05/12/rep-maddock-who-peddled-lies-about-election-fraud-and-covid-19-wants-to-fine-fact-checkers}}</ref> Maddock falsely claimed that 35,000 ballots "showed up out of nowhere" and that Democrats "were pretty much cheating in front of poll watchers."<ref>[https://www.metrotimes.com/news/how-a-michigan-couple-radicalized-the-states-gop-and-emboldened-insurrectionists-26461313 How a Michigan couple radicalized the state's GOP and emboldened insurrectionists], ''Metro Times'', Steve Neavling, February 17, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2024.</ref>
In December 2020, Maddock and Daire Rendon joined a federal lawsuit filed by Trump supporters to challenge the election results. The suit asked for state lawmakers to certify the election results, therefore letting the Republican-led Michigan Legislature to overturn Biden's victory in the state. The judge dismissed the suit, writing that their arguments were "flat-out wrong" and "a fundamental and obvious misreading of the Constitution."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mauger |first1=Craig |title=Judge: Election suit involving 2 Michigan lawmakers 'flat-out wrong' |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/04/judge-election-suit-involving-2-michigan-lawmakers-flat-out-wrong/4132272001/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |work=The Detroit News |date=January 4, 2021}}</ref>
In January 2021, ahead of the counting of the electoral votes and the U.S. Capitol attack, Maddock and 11 other Michigan Republican state legislators wrote a letter to Vice President Mike Pence, urging him to refuse to count electoral votes from states won by Biden until a voter fraud investigation could take place. Responding to such calls, Pence replied in a letter to Congress, "It is my considered judgment that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not."<ref>{{cite news |date=January 7, 2021 |title=Before riot, 11 Mich. Republican lawmakers asked VP to delay certifying the election |first= Allison R. |last=Donahue |work=Michigan Advance |url=https://michiganadvance.com/2021/01/07/before-riot-11-mich-republican-lawmakers-asked-vp-to-delay-certifying-the-election/ |access-date=March 31, 2024}}</ref>
Both Maddock and his wife, Meshawn Maddock, co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party<ref name=Egan/> and a member of the national advisory board of Women for Trump, were present at the January 5, 2021 rallies. A video and photo of the couple speaking at that rally is no longer available on her Instagram account. Meshawn claimed she had organized 19 buses of people to attend the event.<ref>{{cite news | publisher = freep.com | date = January 12, 2021 | title = Rep. Matt Maddock, wife join conservative Facebook group discussing possibility of civil war | author = Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press | url = https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2021/01/12/meshawn-matt-maddock-facebook-group-civil-war/6624802002/}}</ref> Meshawn also texted, "As a leader for Republicans in Michigan, I'm going to stand shoulder to shoulder with Americans that know voter fraud is real. Voters no longer trust the system and we want people prosecuted. Now is not the time for summer soldiers and sunshine Patriots, now is the time for brave men to do the right thing. We never stop fighting."<ref name=Egan>{{cite news | publisher = freep.com | date = January 8, 2021 | title = Activist who organized buses to DC about to take Mich. GOP role | author = Paul Egan, Clara Hendrickson|newspaper=Detroit Free Press | url = https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/01/07/capitol-riot-meshawn-maddock-michigan-republican-cochair/6577739002/}}</ref>
When the Maddocks walked to the Trump rally at The Ellipse on January 6, they said they couldn't get in and went back to their hotel. After the violent attack on the Capitol, Meshawn Maddock said that the rally was intended to be a "peaceful event"; that the people who "became a mob and broke the law should be held accountable"; and that she was "horrified by the death of the young woman and pray for the healing of our nation."<ref>{{cite news | publisher = 9news.com | date = January 8, 2021 | title = VERIFY: Debunking false photos and claims of Antifa at Capitol riot | author = Jason Puckett | url = https://www.9news.com/article/news/verify/verify-debunking-false-photos-surrounding-capitol-riot/507-24d83f07-fd31-48c8-aa47-e2ef8bc1df35}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | publisher = theoaklandpress.com | date = January 14, 2021 | title = Michigan House Democrats sought to censure and investigate GOP Rep. Matt Maddock | author = Mark Cavitt | url = https://www.theoaklandpress.com/news/michigan-house-democrats-seek-to-censure-and-investigate-gop-rep-matt-maddock/article_7eee6c24-567d-11eb-aef4-ebc87def2dc6.html | access-date = February 1, 2021 | archive-date = January 31, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210131024922/https://www.theoaklandpress.com/news/michigan-house-democrats-seek-to-censure-and-investigate-gop-rep-matt-maddock/article_7eee6c24-567d-11eb-aef4-ebc87def2dc6.html | url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name=Independent_2021-1-7>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/republican-lawmakers-rioters-capitol-photos-b1784170.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/republican-lawmakers-rioters-capitol-photos-b1784170.html |archive-date=May 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Six Republican lawmakers among rioters as police release photos of wanted |date=January 7, 2021|author=Gustaf Kilander |website=Independent |access-date=January 7, 2021}}</ref>
Maddock was endorsed by Donald Trump on November 11, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.donaldjtrump.com/news/news-vswuhcer3s0 |title=Endorsement of Matt Maddock |access-date=November 14, 2021 |archive-date=November 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114052913/https://www.donaldjtrump.com/news/news-vswuhcer3s0 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Prediction of political violence=== Maddock's wife, Meshawn, was among sixteen Michigan Republicans who were indicted in July 2023 for alleged conspiracy in a fake electors scheme to overturn the 2020 Michigan presidential election results. At an August 2023 legal defense fundraiser at his home, Maddock told attendees that "if the government continues to weaponize these departments against conservatives" that someone would be shot "or we're going have a civil war or some sort of revolution."<ref>{{cite news |title=GOP lawmaker warns of 'civil war' at fundraiser for indicted Trump electors |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/11/michigan-civil-war-gop-fundraiser/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 11, 2023|author1=Amy B Wang|author2=Patrick Marley}}</ref>
===Claims of illegal immigration=== On March 27, 2024, Maddock promoted the conspiracy theory that the governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer had invited a group of undocumented noncitizens to move to the city of Detroit<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-28 |title=Michigan GOP's Matt Maddock claims Gonzaga team plane and buses are 'illegal invaders' |url=https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/matt-maddock-illegal-invaders-gonzaga |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=FOX 2 Detroit |language=en-US}}</ref> in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. In his posts, Maddock stated that three buses at Detroit Metro Airport were loaded up with "illegal invaders", and he was inquiring as to their destination.<ref>{{cite news |last1=LaBlanc |first1=Beth |title=GOP lawmaker slams 'illegal invaders' at Detroit airport. It was the Sweet 16 teams |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/28/gop-state-lawmaker-matt-maddock-confuses-ncaa-teams-for-illegal-invaders-in-detroit/73135471007/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |work=The Detroit News |date=March 28, 2024}}</ref> In fact, the buses were chartered to transport the Gonzaga University men's basketball team to compete in an NCAA Sweet 16 tournament game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dale |first1=Daniel |title=Fact check: Michigan GOP legislator posted about 'illegal invaders' at Detroit airport. It was Gonzaga's March Madness team |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/28/politics/fact-check-matt-maddock-invaders-gonzaga-madness-detroit/index.html |access-date=March 30, 2024 |publisher=CNN.com |date=March 28, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lobo |first1=Arpan |title=Michigan lawmaker says 'illegal invaders' landed at DTW. They were NCAA basketball teams. |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/28/rep-maddock-calls-ncaa-basketball-teams-at-dtw-illegal-invaders/73130088007/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=March 28, 2024}}</ref>
=== Gordie Howe International Bridge === In February 2026, Maddock praised President Donald Trump for threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mauger |first=Beth LeBlanc and Craig |date=2026 |title=Top Michigan Republicans defend Trump's Gordie Howe Bridge threats |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/10/trump-threatens-to-block-gordie-howe-bridge-opening-canada-china-trade-deal-detroit-michigan/88603508007/ |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Electoral history == {{Election box begin | title=Michigan State House 51st District Election 2022<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ballotpedia.org/Matt_Maddock | title=Matt Maddock | publisher=Ballotpedia |access-date=April 22, 2023}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Matt Maddock |votes = 27,224 |percentage = 57.9 |change = N/A }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Sarah May-Seward |votes = 19,766 |percentage = 42.1 |change = N/A }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Michigan State House 44th District Election 2020<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.detroitnews.com/elections/results/race/2020-11-03-state_house-MI-23864/ | title=Election Results – General Election – November 3, 2020 | publisher=Detroit News |date=November 3, 2020 |access-date=October 25, 2021}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Matt Maddock |votes = 35,416 |percentage = 59.5 |change = N/A }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Denise Forrest |votes = 24,067 |percentage = 40.5 |change = N/A }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=Michigan State House 44th District Election 2018<ref>{{cite web | url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/MI/Oakland/91321/222847/en/summary.html | title=Election Results – General Election – November 6, 2018 | publisher=Oakland County Michigan Elections Department |date=February 29, 2016 |access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Matt Maddock |votes = 26,184 |percentage = 57.5 |change = N/A }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Laura Dodd |votes = 19,330 |percentage = 42.5 |change = N/A }} {{Election box end}}
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Michigan House of Representatives}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maddock, Matthew}} Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives Category:Protesters in or near the January 6 United States Capitol attack Category:21st-century members of the Michigan Legislature Category:1965 births