| Matthew Heilman | |
| Party: | Republican |
| Residence: | Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Birth Date: | 19 July 2001 |
| Birth Place: | Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | Bismarck State College |
| State House: | North Dakota |
| District: | 7th |
| Predecessor: | Rick Becker |
| Termstart: | December 1, 2022 |
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 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.[1]
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.[1] He won the Republican primary with 34.7% of the vote and won the general election unopposed.[2]
In July 2022, Heilman spoke at the far-right State of the Movement conference presented by Vince Dao's organization, American Virtue.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
Heilman routinely shares, likes, and interacts with online content shared by white nationalists.[6]
Heilman supports House Bill 1494, aimed at making school meals more accessible to students.[7]
Heilman introduced HB 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".[8]
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.[9]
Heilman has called for an end to birthright citizenship,[10] supported mass deportations,[11] and called the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 "awful".[12]
Heilman was an Eagle Scout.[13]