Matt Bliss
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 2A district
Assumed office
January 5, 2021
Preceded byJohn Persell
In office
January 3, 2017 – January 7, 2019
Preceded byJohn Persell
Succeeded byJohn Persell
Constituency5A (2017-2018)
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Christine (died of cancer)
Emily
Children4
Residence(s)Pennington, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationUnited States Navy
Occupation
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website
Military service
AllegianceUnited States Navy
UnitCommunications and electronics

Matt Bliss is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2021, who also served from 2017 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Bliss represents District 2A in northern Minnesota, which includes parts of Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, and Mahnomen Counties.[1]

Early life, education, and career

Bliss was raised on a farm and is one of ten siblings. He joined the Navy after high school and was trained in communications and electronics.[2]

Bliss owns Bliss Point Resort along Cass Lake and worked as an IT director for the Red Lake Nation.[3] He was the president of the Pennington Resort Association.[4]

Bliss ran unsuccessfully for the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners in 2014.[5]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Bliss was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016. He defeated four-term DFL incumbent John Persell. In 2018, Bliss lost to Persell by 11 votes.[3][6] A state-mandated recount confirmed Persell's victory.[7] In 2020, Bliss once again defeated Persell, and was reelected in 2022.[1] Bliss criticized Persell for his co-authorship of a red-flag gun control proposal and Democrats for defunding the police, though Persell stated he advocated for more public safety funding.[8]

Bliss serves as the minority lead on the Veteran and Military Affairs Committee and also sits on the Children and Families Finance and Policy and the Elections Finance and Policy Committees.[1]

Electoral history

2016 Minnesota State House - District 5A[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Bliss 10,318 53.88
Democratic (DFL) John Persell 8,808 45.99
Write-in 25 0.13
Total votes 19,151 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic (DFL)
2018 Minnesota State House - District 5A[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) John Persell 8,454 50.01
Republican Matt Bliss 8,443 49.95
Write-in 7 0.04
Total votes 16,904 100.0
Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican
2020 Minnesota State House - District 5A[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Bliss 11,482 53.37
Democratic (DFL) John Persell 9,996 46.46
Write-in 36 0.17
Total votes 21,514 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic (DFL)
2022 Minnesota State House - District 2B[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Bliss 11,310 63.46
Democratic (DFL) Erika Bailey-Johnson 6,505 36.50
Write-in 8 0.04
Total votes 17,823 100.0
Republican hold

Personal life

Bliss lives in Pennington, Minnesota with his wife Emily, and has four children.[1] He was previously married to Christine until she died of cancer. He is a member of the Minnesota Deer Hunters’ Association, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and the Ruffed Grouse Society.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Bliss, Matt". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Matt Bliss announces plans to run for House dist. 5A". The Pilot-Independent. Adams Publishing Group. August 18, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Van Berkel, Jessie (November 17, 2018). "Recount likely for Bemidji House seat". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  4. ^ "ELECTION 2016: District 5A: Bliss defeats incumbent Persell". Brainerd Dispatch. November 9, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  5. ^ Liedke, Matthew (August 7, 2015). "Bliss enters 2016 race for Minnesota House 5A seat". The Bemidji Pioneer. Forum Communications. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  6. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (December 5, 2018). "Bemidji Democrat John Persell holds on to beat Rep. Matt Bliss in state House recount". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  7. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (December 5, 2018). "Recount pending in suburban state House race". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  8. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2020-11-16). "What the results from a seesaw political rivalry in Bemidji says about the 2020 election". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  9. ^ "2016 Results for State Representative District 5A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  10. ^ "2018 Results for State Representative District 5A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  11. ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 5A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  12. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 2B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 10, 2023.

External links

Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Categories