James Matthew Morgan (born February 5, 1973) is an American politician who has served as a Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 29A, which includes the Northwestern portion of St. Mary's County, since 2015.
Matthew Morgan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 29A district | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | John F. Wood Jr. |
| Constituency | St. Mary's County, Maryland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Matthew Morgan February 5, 1973 La Plata, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence(s) | Mechanicsville, Maryland, U.S. |
Early life and education
editMorgan was born on February 5, 1973, in La Plata, Maryland. He graduated from Maurice J. McDonough High School in nearby Pomfret, Maryland.[1]
In the legislature
editMorgan was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 14, 2015, and has served as a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee during his entire tenure. From 2019 to 2021, he served as the Assistant Minority Leader of the House of Delegates.[1] Morgan is also a member of the Maryland Freedom Caucus.[2]
In 2021, Morgan ran for Minority Leader of the House of Delegates on a ticket with Delegate Mark N. Fisher.[3] The Adams-Morgan ticket was defeated by Jason C. Buckel and Haven Shoemaker by a "more than a 2–1 margin".[4]
Political positions
editEducation
editIn April 2023, Morgan sent a letter to State Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury accusing the Maryland State Department of Education of hiding scores from failing scores by altering data files available on the department's website. An investigation conducted by the state inspector general found no evidence of these claims.[5]
Electoral reform
editIn 2015, Morgan joined Neil Parrott in filing a lawsuit challenging the state's congressional districts.[6]
Morgan opposed a 2021 bill that would require elections for county commissioners to only be decided by voters within the districts in which the candidate is running.[7][8] During debate on the legislation, he introduced an amendment that would impose the same rules on school board districts, which was rejected by a 45–93 vote.[9] The bill later passed the House of Delegates by a vote of 95-39.[10]
Morgan opposed legislation introduced during the 2021 legislative session that would send a mail-in ballot to every registered voter in both the state's primary and general elections.[11]
In April 2021, Morgan proposed an amendment that would make top law enforcement officers in each jurisdiction elected by local members of the public.[12]
Gun control
editFollowing a March 2018 school shooting at Great Mills High School, located within Morgan's district, Morgan responded with pessimism that proposed gun control legislation would be effective in preventing future shootings, saying "I don't know if there is a policy fix."[13] During the 2019 legislative session, Morgan introduced legislation to give local school systems the ability to station police officers at every school within its jurisdiction.[14]
Healthcare
editMorgan opposed a 2019 bill to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to negotiate the prices of prescription drugs, expressing concern that the board would lead to shortages of life-saving medications.[15]
Housing
editDuring the 2024 legislative session, Morgan opposed bills to give tenants the right of first refusal if the property owner of their residence seeks to sell the property and another that would put rent payments in escrow if a landlord neglects life-threatening defects in a tenant's residence, saying that legislators should instead focus on passing bills to crack down on "slum tenants" instead of slumlords.[16]
National politics
editMorgan supported Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. He criticized Michael Steele's decision to join The Lincoln Project, saying "It definitely conflicts with where the party is as a whole."[17]
In May 2024, Morgan signed onto a letter condemning the jury's guilty verdict in the Trump hush money trial, calling the ruling a "political prosecution from a kangaroo court and left-leaning prosecutor" that is turning the U.S. justice system into a "third world parody of law and order".[18]
Social issues
editIn March 2018, Morgan opposed legislation that would have renamed the Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge after senator Thomas M. Middleton.[19]
In April of the same year, Morgan proposed an amendment to expand net neutrality legislation to regulate privacy policies on social media companies; the amendment was rejected over concerns that it did not fit the scope of the bill.[20]
Following the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, Morgan called Floyd's death "tragic" and indefensible" while accusing Democrats of using the incident as an "excuse to drive political narrative" and "dismantle the police departments".[21]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Morgan | 1,299 | 45.4 | |
| Republican | Bryan "Puff" Barthelme | 845 | 29.5 | |
| Republican | Thomas Tommy McKay | 718 | 25.1 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Morgan | 8,948 | 64.8 | |
| Democratic | Daniel A.M. Slade | 4,840 | 35.1 | |
| Write-In | 13 | 0.1 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Morgan | 11,471 | 69.0 | |
| Democratic | Roberta Miles Loker | 5,145 | 30.9 | |
| Write-In | 12 | 0.1 | ||
References
edit- ^ a b "Matt Morgan, Maryland State Delegate". msa.maryland.gov.
- ^ Kurtz, Josh (August 2, 2024). "House Freedom Caucus could be gaining more firepower in Annapolis". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ Kurtz, Josh (April 9, 2021). "House GOP to Pick New Leadership Team Next Week". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Kurtz, Josh (December 30, 2021). "After Recent Rift, House GOP Re-Elects Buckel as Leader, Taps Shoemaker as Whip". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Reed, Lillian (May 9, 2023). "Maryland State Department of Education did not cover up test scores from failing schools, inspector finds". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- ^ "Lawsuit Filed Over Maryland Congressional Redistricting". WJZ-TV. June 24, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Leckrone, Bennett (February 10, 2021). "Proposal Would Change How Some Counties Elect Commissioners". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Gaines, Danielle (February 23, 2021). "Tensions High During House Debate on Changing County Commissioners' Elections". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Leckrone, Bennett (February 25, 2021). "Roundup: House Republicans Attempt Amendments on Local Tax, Election Measures". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Leckrone, Bennett (March 3, 2021). "County Election Reforms Passed by House Hailed As 'Historic Civil Rights Legislation' by Speaker". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Bateman, Madison (February 24, 2021). "Proposed mail-in voting bill would send every eligible voter a ballot during elections". Maryland Independent. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Gaskill, Hannah (April 7, 2021). "Senate Panel Concurs With House Amendments to Police Reform Bills". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Cox, Erin (March 20, 2018). "After Maryland school shooting, some state lawmakers react with pessimism over preventing gun violence". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Kurtz, Josh (January 27, 2019). "Republicans Focus on the Session — and the Future". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ DePuyt, Bruce (March 22, 2019). "House Panel Drastically Scales Back Prescription Drug Affordability Bill". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Brown, Danielle J. (March 18, 2024). "Landlord-tenant bills provide drama in 'Crossover Day' House action". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ DePuyt, Bruce (August 29, 2020). "Steele's Deal With Lincoln Project Could Impact His Md. Ambitions". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Pittman, Elijah (May 31, 2024). "Maryland Democrats guarded, Republicans angry in wake of Trump conviction". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ Dresser, Michael (March 17, 2018). "U.S. 301 bridge could be renamed after sitting senator, per bill advancing in Maryland House". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ "Bill would provide Internet users in Md. with privacy protection and net neutrality; dies in Senate". MarylandReporter.com. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
- ^ Gaskill, Hannah (July 23, 2020). "House Republicans Rally in Support of Police, Blast Democrats Who Call for Defunding". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
- ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
- ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.