Matthew Daniel Rinaldi(born April 11, 1975) is an American attorney and politician who served aschairmanof theRepublican Party of Texasfrom 2021 to 2024. Rinaldi was a member of theTexas House of Representativesfor District 115 inDallas Countyfrom 2015 to 2019 when he was defeated by Democrat Julie Johnson.[1]
Matt Rinaldi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of theTexas Republican Party | |
| In office July 11, 2021 – May 25, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Allen West |
| Succeeded by | Abraham George |
| Member of theTexas House of Representatives from the 115th district | |
| In office January 13, 2015 – January 8, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Bennett Ratliff |
| Succeeded by | Julie Johnson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Matthew Daniel Rinaldi April 11, 1975 Bridgeport, Connecticut,U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Corley Rinaldi |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | James Madison University(BA) Boston University(JD) |
Early life and education
editRinaldi was born inBridgeport, Connecticut.He graduated fromJames Madison UniversityinHarrisonburg, Virginia,at which he drew national attention for his successful effort to have thePledge of Allegiancerecited prior to meetings of the student government association.[2]He graduated in 2001 with aJuris Doctordegree fromBoston University School of Law.[3]
Professional career
editAfter law school, Rinaldi became a litigation associate with theDallasoffice ofGibson, Dunn & Crutcher.Rinaldi spent the next two decades working at different law firms but never made partner and never worked at any law firm for more than five years.[4]After working at various Dallas law firm, Rinaldi worked part-time with various gigs until he began to work for a billionaire political donor.[4]
Political career
editTexas House of Representatives
edit2012 and 2014 Texas primaries
editIn 2012, Rinaldi placed third of five candidates in the Republicanprimary electionfor the 115th district of theTexas House of Representatives;the seat was open following the retirement of veteran legislator Jim Jackson.[5]Of the top two vote-getters,Bennett Ratliffwould win the Republican nomination in a run-off over Steve Nguyen, then go on to win the seat in November 2012.
On March 4, 2014, Rinaldi challenged incumbent Ratliff in the Texas Republican primary for the seat again, this time successfully; Rinaldi earned 4,167 votes (50.6 percent) to Ratliff's 4,075 votes (49.4 percent).[6]
84th legislative session and 2016 Texas primary
editDuring the84th Texas Legislature,Rinaldi was appointed to the Agriculture & Livestock committee and the Business & Industry committee. He joint- and co-authored successful pieces of legislation that were signed into law, including HB 11[7](authorizing additional troopers for border security and strengthening smuggling laws) and HB 283[8](increasing government transparency by requiring certain governmental bodies to make audio and video recordings of open meetings available online).
Rinaldi filed bills intended to eliminate or minimize the effects of theRobin Hood planon Texas public school districts with HB 945[9]and HB 1411.[10]
Rinaldi co-authored legislation that would repeal in-state tuition and end welfare benefits for undocumented immigrants[11]as well as penalize businesses that knowingly hire undocumented immigrants.[12][13]
Rinaldi was rated the most conservative member of the Texas House by aRice Universitystudy that "[drew] on the 1,138 non-lopsided roll call votes taken during the 2015 regular session."[14]
In the Republican primary held on March 1, 2016, Rinaldi and Ratliff would face off a third time,[15]as Ratliff vied unsuccessfully to win back the House District 115 seat. Rinaldi earned 8,804 votes (53.45 percent) to Ratliff's 7,668 votes (46.55 percent).[16]In the November 8 general election of that year, Rinaldi narrowly held on to the House seat, earning 29,987 votes (50.9 percent) overDemocratDorotha M. Ocker's 28,939 (49.1 percent).[17]
85th legislative session
editDuring the85th Texas Legislature,Rinaldi was appointed to the Agriculture & Livestock committee and the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence committee.
Rinaldi was, according toThe Dallas Morning News,"instrumental in strengthening the punishments in thesanctuary citiesban, "[18]and authored and passed into law measures that: remove from office public officials who adopt sanctuary city policies,[19]require government contractors and subcontractors to use e-verify,[20]revoke pensions of teachers convicted of committing sex crimes against students,[21][22][23]allow churches to utilize volunteers to provide security services without risking heavy fines,[24]and prohibit any taxpayer money from going to Planned Parenthood.[25]He also re-introduced legislation he had previously proposed to end the Robin Hood school finance system.[26]
In May 2017, Rinaldi calledImmigrations and Customs Enforcementofficers on protesters inside the Capitol building. Rinaldi claimed that he called ICE after seeing individuals holding protest signs indicating they were illegal immigrants.[27]An altercation ensued; according to multiple Hispanic Democratic lawmakers, Rinaldi got into their faces during the dispute and cursed at them. Video shot from the House floor showed both Republicans and Democrats pushing each other. Rinaldi claimed that RepresentativePoncho Nevárezthreatened his life during the incident, which Nevárez denied. Democratic lawmakerJustin Rodriguezclaimed that Rinaldi threatened to "put a bullet in one of my colleagues’ heads"; Rinaldi did not deny making the statement, but claimed it was made in self-defense.[28]Rinaldi's actions were widely seen as having a racial motivation.[29]After the incident, state representativeRamon Romero Jr.said Rinaldi had "racially profiled every single person that was in the gallery today."[28]
During Rinaldi's second term, he remained ranked as the most conservative legislator (tied withBriscoe CainandJonathan Stickland) in Austin according to aRice University's study roll-call vote analysis drawing on 1,460 non-lopsided roll-call votes taken during the 2017 regular session.[30]He was also named one of the Top 10 Legislators by the conservative advocacy groupEmpower Texans,[31]as well as one of the Top 10 Worst Legislators byTexas Monthly.[32]His voting record earned a 100 score from conservative advocacy groupTexans for Fiscal Responsibility.[33]
2018 campaign
editRinaldi lost his state House seat in 2018. Rinaldi was unseated by DemocratJulie Johnson,whose campaign included volunteers who had been part of the ICE altercation at the Capitol in May 2017.[34]Rinaldi earned 24,512 votes (43.21 percent) to Johnson's 32,214 votes (56.79 percent), the lowest vote percentage of any House incumbent in Dallas County that year.[35]
Republican Party of Texas
editRinaldi was elected Chairman of theRepublican Party of Texason July 11, 2021, to replace outgoing chair, former CongressmanAllen West.[36][37]In his first weeks as chairman, Rinaldi had established a reputation of being more collegial than West had been,[38]but also signaled an intent to challenge statewide Republican officials including GovernorGreg Abbott.[39]As state GOP chair, Rinaldi directly criticized elected Texas Republicans perceived by the grassroots faction within the state organization as not conservative enough.[40][41]
Rinaldi announced he would not run for reelection as Texas GOP Chairman in 2024.[42]He was succeeded byAbraham George,[43]whom Rinaldi endorsed.[44]
Personal life
editHe and his wife Corley, married since 2010, have a son, Rush.[42]They attend St. Ann Catholic ParishRoman Catholic ChurchinCoppell.[3]
Election history
edit- 2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Julie Johnson | 32,214 | 56.8 | ||
| Republican | Matt Rinaldi | 24,512 | 43.2 | ||
| DemocraticgainfromRepublican | |||||
- 2016
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Rinaldi | 29,987 | 50.9 | ||
| Democratic | Dorotha Ocker | 28,939 | 49.1 | ||
| Republicanhold | |||||
- 2014
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Rinaldi | 16,999 | 57.1 | ||
| Democratic | Paul K. Stafford | 11,767 | 39.5 | ||
| Libertarian | Kim Kelley | 999 | 3.4 | ||
| Republicanhold | |||||
References
edit- ^"Matt Rinaldi".Texas Legislative Reference Library.RetrievedMarch 16,2014.
- ^Strauss, Valerie (October 27, 1994)."Battle over Pledge of Allegiance Cleaves a Campus".Washington Post.RetrievedMay 29,2017.
- ^ab"About Matt Rinaldi".mattrinaldi. Archived fromthe originalon December 10, 2014.RetrievedDecember 10,2014.
- ^abHooks, Christopher (November 6, 2023)."Sinners in the Hands of an Angry GOP".Texas Monthly.RetrievedMay 28,2024.
- ^"Jim Jackson, fixture in Dallas County politics, to retire, July 13, 2011".July 13, 2011.
- ^"Republican runoff primary returns (House District 115), March 4, 2014".Texas Secretary of State.Archived fromthe originalon January 9, 2014.RetrievedJuly 10,2014.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 84(R) History for HB 11".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedSeptember 21,2015.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 84(R) History for HB 283".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedSeptember 21,2015.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 84(R) History for HB 945".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedSeptember 23,2015.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 84(R) History for HB 1411".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedSeptember 23,2015.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 84(R) History for HB 306".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedSeptember 23,2015.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 84(R) History for HB 183".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedSeptember 23,2015.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 84(R) History for SB 374".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedSeptember 23,2015.
- ^Jones, Mark P. (July 7, 2015)."The 2015 Texas House, from left to right".TribTalk.RetrievedSeptember 21,2015.
- ^Smith, Morgan (February 12, 2016)."Old Rivals Face Off in Dallas House Race".Texas Tribune.RetrievedMay 29,2023.
- ^"Republican primary returns (House District 115), March 1, 2016".Texas Secretary of State.RetrievedApril 21,2016.
- ^"Election Results".Texas Secretary of State. November 8, 2016.RetrievedDecember 15,2016.
- ^"Joe Straus confident he'll continue as House Speaker".Dallas News.September 23, 2017.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 85(R) History for SB 4".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 85(R) History for SB 312".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 85(R) History for SB 7".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 85(R) History for HB 2289".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^"Bill cracking down on sexual and other improper student-teacher relationships passes House".Dallas News.May 8, 2017.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 85(R) History for HB 421".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 85(R) History for SB 8".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^"Texas Legislature Online - 85(R) History for HB 286".capitol.state.tx.us.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^"Reversal: ICE confirms fielding call about SB 4 protesters".May 31, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 20,2020.
- ^ab"Republican lawmaker: I called immigration authorities on Capitol protesters".The Texas Tribune. May 29, 2017.RetrievedMay 30,2017.
- ^Garcia, Michelle (September 7, 2019)."In Texas, a call to action against white supremacy".CNN.RetrievedSeptember 7,2019.
- ^"The 2017 Texas House, from left to right, by Mark P. Jones".TribTalk.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^"Best and Worst Legislators of 2017 - Empower Texans".Empower Texans.May 28, 2017.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^"2017: The Best and Worst Legislators".Texas Monthly.June 20, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 13,2019.
- ^"Matt Rinaldi".index.empowertexans.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^Bova, Gus (November 7, 2018)."SayAdiósto Matt Rinaldi, the Texas Lawmaker Who Called ICE to Report Latino Protesters ".RetrievedJanuary 28,2020.
A Dallas-area attorney, Johnson ran a campaign that included volunteers that Rinaldi actually called ICE on at the Texas Capitol during a pro-immigrant protest last May.
- ^"Race Summary Report, 2018 General Election, 11/6/2018".Texas Office of the Secretary of State. November 6, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 28,2020.
- ^Waltens, Brandon.Matt Rinaldi Elected New Chair of Texas GOP,Texas Scorecard,July 11, 2021.
- ^Greenwood, Max (July 12, 2021)."Texas GOP picks another Abbott critic to lead state party".The Hill.RetrievedJuly 12,2021.
- ^Svitek, Patrick (August 27, 2021)."New Texas GOP chair Matt Rinaldi winning over critics of Allen West's tumultuous era".The Texas Tribune.RetrievedSeptember 19,2021.
- ^Svitek, Patrick (July 9, 2021)."New Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi Is Likely to Keep the Heat on Greg Abbott and Other Republicans".Texas Monthly.RetrievedMay 29,2023.
- ^"Texas GOP launches radio attack ads against Republican state House speaker".The Texas Tribune.January 20, 2023.RetrievedMay 29,2023.
- ^Downen, Robert (May 23, 2024).""The house is on fire": Texas GOP plots its next chapter amid civil war, depleted staff, funding drops ".The Texas Tribune.RetrievedMay 28,2024.
- ^abDownen, Robert (March 15, 2024)."Texas GOP chair Matt Rinaldi won't seek reelection".The Texas Tribune.RetrievedMarch 20,2024.
- ^Downey, Renzo; Downen, Robert (May 24, 2024)."Far-right favorite Abraham George elected to lead Texas GOP".The Texas Tribune.RetrievedMay 28,2024.
- ^Downen, Robert (March 27, 2024)."Race to succeed Texas GOP chair Matt Rinaldi has become referendum on his tenure".The Texas Tribune.RetrievedMay 28,2024.
- ^"2016 General Election".Dallas County Elections.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^"2016 General Election".Dallas County Elections.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.
- ^"2014 General Election".Dallas County Elections.RetrievedNovember 14,2017.