Matt Woodside

As a Christian, I believe that every human life, from the moment of conception, is an intentional miracle, created in the image of God with inherent dignity and purpose, by a God who loves us so much He died for us. Therefore, I will fight tirelessly to advance pro-life policies including strengthening protections for the unborn, pursuing personhood recognition, and supporting life-affirming resources.

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I am committed to protecting one of our nation’s foundational pillars: the right to worship freely. Religious liberty, a cornerstone of our freedom, faces increasing threats nationwide from overreaching government policies. In Brevard County, we must ensure that every citizen can practice their faith as enumerated in the Constitution.

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I am committed to standing with our law enforcement officers and first responders, who risk their lives every day to protect and serve the Space Coast. These heroes need robust support to meet the rising demands of our vibrant community and ensure a safe environment for families. I will work within the Florida House to advocate for policies that empower our first responders to serve safely and effectively with the resources and support they need and deserve.

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Support Law Enforcement & First Responders

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As State Representative for District 31, Matt Woodside pledges to stand with the families of Brevard as he champions faith, family, and freedom through education, parental rights, public safety, and economic growth, ensuring Brevard County remains a place where every voice is heard, and every family can thrive.

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I’m committed to fueling Space Coast prosperity by empowering our small businesses, the backbone of our strong community. I will support streamlined regulations, lower tax barriers, and state grants and training programs to boost small business competitiveness.

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As a lifelong Brevard County resident and the son of an aerospace engineer who worked in the space industry for 30 years, I understand the vital role the space industry plays in our community’s economy and identity. Home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and a growing hub for private aerospace, the Space Coast drives over $2.1 billion in economic impact annually. I will champion policies to strengthen this industry while ensuring our K-12 students are prepared to lead its future. I will advocate for targeted investments to support space-related infrastructure, research, and workforce development, seek to streamline regulations for new companies looking for a home on the Space Coast, and push for state funding and policies to expand STEM programs in Brevard Public Schools.

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As State Representative for District 31, Matt Woodside pledges to stand with the families of Brevard as he champions faith, family, and freedom through education, parental rights, public safety, and economic growth, ensuring Brevard County remains a place where every voice is heard, and every family can thrive.

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"Parents are the primary stakeholders in their child's education. Parents have the fundamental right and responsibility to direct the upbringing and education of their child."

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Matt has also been a bold advocate for Brevard’s students and families. In 2021, he led a two-year effort against harmful gender policies in schools that endangered students and sidelined parents. Facing opposition from his district, Matt partnered with parents and fought tirelessly for two years until these policies were finally outlawed in 2023, empowering families and protecting students.

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Parents are the primary stakeholders in their children’s education and deserve a permanent voice in shaping it. Parents must have transparency and control over what their children learn and experience in our schools. I will work within the Florida House and partner with the Office of Parental Rights to continue championing policies that strengthen parental rights, including strengthening opt-out options and increasing curriculum and instructional transparency. ​​

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I am committed to ensuring our schools remain centers of learning, not platforms for activism. When teachers violate Florida law by prioritizing personal agendas over their educational duties, they erode the trust of our students and families and undermine the mission of our schools. Classrooms must foster knowledge and critical thinking, not indoctrination. I will work within the Florida House to uphold accountability and protect the integrity of our education system by advocating for robust enforcement of Florida laws, pushing for certification revocation for teachers who violate Florida law, and supporting programs that reinforce teachers’ legal and ethical responsibilities to educate, not indoctrinate.

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Chronic student misbehavior is the greatest barrier to learning in our classrooms. Across Brevard County and our state, we have families, teachers, and administrators losing confidence in our public schools due to unaddressed disruptions and violence. Every student deserves a safe, structured environment to achieve their highest potential, free from chaos and harm. I will work within the Florida House to champion policies that restore order and prioritize learning.

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As an educator who has fought against harmful gender policies in our schools, I am committed to restoring trust in education by advocating for stricter enforcement of Florida’s laws to ensure classrooms prioritize learning over ideology. Our schools must uphold academic excellence and family values. I will continue to guard against harmful gender policies, working with the Office of Parental Rights to ensure strict enforcement of Florida laws concerning gender and sexuality.​

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I firmly believe parents have the fundamental right to choose how and where their children are educated—whether in public schools, private institutions, or through homeschooling. Every family deserves the freedom to make the educational decisions that best suit their values and their children’s needs. I will work within the Florida House to support policies that empower parents, including advocating to strengthen and expand school choice programs and partnering with parents to increase homeschool freedom.

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Florida ranks near the bottom nationally in the percentage of its state budget dedicated to education. As your state representative, I will champion policies to boost school funding, expand access to trade and space-focused programs, and increase state scholarships to include more support for trade certifications and space-related studies, ensuring students are prepared for high-demand careers.

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Despite recent pay increases for new teachers, Florida ranks 50th nationally in average teacher salary, ahead only of West Virginia, according to 2025 data. This low ranking fuels the critical teacher shortage happening statewide. I am committed to reversing this trend to ensure our schools attract and retain top-quality educators.

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Expand Parental Rights & Increase Transparency

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As State Representative for District 31, Matt Woodside pledges to stand with the families of Brevard as he champions faith, family, and freedom through education, parental rights, public safety, and economic growth, ensuring Brevard County remains a place where every voice is heard, and every family can thrive.

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I am committed to preserving Florida’s status as a national leader in secure elections, ensuring the trust of our residents in the democratic process. I will champion policies within the Florida House to protect election integrity. We must maintain robust voter ID and verification processes. I will also support measures to increase public access to election audits and reporting and will oppose any proposals that weaken ballot security.

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Our waterways are vital to the Space Coast’s way of life, economy, and natural beauty and must be safeguarded from harmful practices. Preserving our rivers, lagoons, and coastal waters is essential for future generations. I will advocate for legislation to combat pollution and harmful development practices impacting the Indian River lagoon and other waterways, push for increased funding for water quality initiatives, and support state partnerships with Brevard County to enhance conservation efforts and protect our ecosystems.

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I believe, as our Founders did, that a well-armed citizenry is the first line of defense against threats, whether from individuals or tyrannical government. The Second Amendment guarantees our fundamental right to self-defense, a cornerstone of liberty for all citizens. As a lifetime member of the NRA, I will work tirelessly within the Florida House to protect and strengthen our Second Amendment rights, including pushing for Constitutional Carry.

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Expand Parental Rights & Increase Transparency

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I believe the best government is a limited one—one that protects individual liberty without overstepping its bounds. Governmental overreach, as witnessed during the COVID-19 era, too often tramples on citizens’ rights and fosters unhealthy dependence on the state. I stand for a government that empowers, not controls, its people, ensuring Brevard County’s residents can thrive as free, responsible individuals.

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Rising costs are pricing families out of our community, and I’ll fight to change that. I’m committed to fueling Space Coast prosperity by making housing more affordable for our residents. I will support streamlining zoning regulations, increasing homestead exemption, and enhanced tort reform and a streamlined process for new insurance companies entering the market to drive down insurance premiums.

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I believe a secure border is essential to protect the safety, security, and access to vital resources for citizens. I will champion policies within the Florida House to strengthen border security. I will support legislation that bolsters Florida’s cooperation with federal border patrol agencies and support policies to ensure essential services are prioritized for legal residents.

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I’m committed to fueling Space Coast prosperity by empowering our small businesses, the backbone of our strong community. I will support streamlined regulations, lower tax barriers, and state grants and training programs to boost small business competitiveness.

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Driven by conservative principles of disciplined budgeting, substantial reserves, and aggressive debt reduction, earning us top-tier AAA credit ratings, Florida stands as a national leader in fiscal responsibility. I will work to uphold these conservative values and continue Florida’s fiscal excellence to ensure a thriving economy for future generations.

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