22 Facts About Matt Rinaldi

Matthew Daniel Rinaldi was born on April 11,1975 and is an American attorney and politician who served as chairman of the Republican Party of Texas from 2021 to 2024.

Matt Rinaldi graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, at which he drew national attention for his successful effort to have the Pledge of Allegiance recited prior to meetings of the student government association.

Matt Rinaldi graduated in 2001 with a Juris Doctor degree from Boston University School of Law.

Matt 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.

In 2012, Matt Rinaldi placed third of five candidates in the Republican primary election for the 115th district of the Texas House of Representatives; the seat was open following the retirement of veteran legislator Jim Jackson.

On March 4,2014, Matt Rinaldi challenged incumbent Ratliff in the Texas Republican primary for the seat again, this time successfully; Matt Rinaldi earned 4,167 votes to Ratliff's 4,075 votes.

Matt Rinaldi filed bills intended to eliminate or minimize the effects of the Robin Hood plan on Texas public school districts with HB 945 and HB 1411.

Matt Rinaldi co-authored legislation that would repeal in-state tuition and end welfare benefits for undocumented immigrants as well as penalize businesses that knowingly hire undocumented immigrants.

Matt Rinaldi earned 8,804 votes to Ratliff's 7,668 votes.

Matt Rinaldi re-introduced legislation he had previously proposed to end the Robin Hood school finance system.

In May 2017, Matt Rinaldi called Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers on protesters inside the Capitol building.

Matt Rinaldi claimed that he called ICE after seeing individuals holding protest signs indicating they were illegal immigrants.

An altercation ensued; according to multiple Hispanic Democratic lawmakers, Matt Rinaldi got into their faces during the dispute and cursed at them.

Matt Rinaldi claimed that Representative Poncho Nevarez threatened his life during the incident, which Nevarez denied.

Democratic lawmaker Justin Rodriguez claimed that Matt Rinaldi threatened to "put a bullet in one of my colleagues' heads"; Matt Rinaldi did not deny making the statement, but claimed it was made in self-defense.

Matt Rinaldi's actions were widely seen as having a racial motivation.

Matt Rinaldi was named one of the Top 10 Legislators by the conservative advocacy group Empower Texans, as well as one of the Top 10 Worst Legislators by Texas Monthly.

Matt Rinaldi was unseated by Democrat Julie Johnson, whose campaign included volunteers who had been part of the ICE altercation at the Capitol in May 2017.

Matt Rinaldi earned 24,512 votes to Johnson's 32,214 votes, the lowest vote percentage of any House incumbent in Dallas County that year.

Matt Rinaldi was elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas on July 11,2021, to replace outgoing chair, former Congressman Allen West.

Matt Rinaldi announced he would not run for reelection as Texas GOP Chairman in 2024.

Matt Rinaldi was succeeded by Abraham George, whom Rinaldi endorsed.