Devon Mathis
{{Short description|American politician from California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Devon Mathis
|image = Mathis Final Headshot Studio-112.jpg
|office = Member of the California Assembly
|term_start = December 1, 2014
|term_end = November 30, 2024
|predecessor = Connie Conway
|successor = Alexandra Macedo
|constituency = 26th district (2014–2022)
33rd district (2022–2024)
|birth_name = Devon John Mathis
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|09|21}}
|birth_place = Porterville, California, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Republican
|spouse =
|children = 5
|education = Porterville College (AA)
California State University, Fresno (BA)
George Washington University (MPS)
|website = {{URL|ad33.asmrc.org|State Assembly website}}
|branch = United States Army
|rank = Sergeant
|unit = Army National Guard
|mawards = Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal
|battles = Iraq War
}}
Devon John Mathis (born September 21, 1982) is an American politician who served as a member of the California State Assembly from the 33rd district, which is located in Kings County, western Tulare County, and a small part of southern Fresno County.{{URL|https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/final_maps}} He served as the Caucus Operations Chair for the California State Assembly Republican Caucus.
Early life and education
Mathis was born in Porterville, California. He earned an Associate of Arts degree in Social Sciences from Porterville College and Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from California State University, Fresno. Mathis graduated from George Washington University earning a Master of Professional Studies in Strategic Public Relations in 2021.
Career
Before joining the Assembly, Mathis served for 10 years as a Sergeant in the Army National Guard, including two tours in Iraq. During his second tour in Iraq, Mathis was severely injured in a roadside bomb attack, for which he was awarded a Purple Heart.
In 2014, he unexpectedly defeated Woodlake Mayor Rudy Mendoza, a fellow Republican who was better known and had more support from established Republicans. Mendoza sought a rematch in 2016, but Mathis defeated him again in the primary. Mathis, who had no previous political experience, ran on his status as a former Army National Guard sergeant and veterans advocate.
In July 2017 Mathis, along with four other Republican assemblymen, voted "Yes" on AB 398 to extend California's Cap and Trade program.{{cite web |url= https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billVotesClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB398| title= AB 398 - 2017| date=January 6, 2022|access-date=October 10, 2022}}
In 2018, Mathis faced a serious primary challenge, winning only 30% of the vote and narrowly eliminating Republican Visalia Mayor Warren Gubler. But in the November general election, he rallied and defeated Democratic Tulare City Councilman Jose Sigala with 58% of the vote.
Mathis was not seriously challenged in 2020 or in 2022.
He served as the Vice Chair of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture {{cite web |url= https://agri.assembly.ca.gov/ |title= Agriculture Committee| date=January 6, 2022|access-date=October 10, 2022}} and the Vice Chair of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife.{{cite web |url= https://awpw.assembly.ca.gov/ |title= Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee| date=January 6, 2022|access-date=October 10, 2022}} Mathis also served on the Assembly Committee on Appropriations,{{cite web |url= https://apro.assembly.ca.gov/committeehome|title= Appropriations Committee| date=January 6, 2022|access-date=October 10, 2022}} the Committee on Government Organization,{{cite web |url= https://agov.assembly.ca.gov/ |title= Governmental Organization Committee| date=January 6, 2022|access-date=October 10, 2022}} the Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs,{{cite web |url= https://amva.assembly.ca.gov/ |title= Military and Veterans Committee| date=January 6, 2022|access-date=October 10, 2022}} the Committee on Natural Resources,{{cite web |url= https://antr.assembly.ca.gov/ |title= Natural Resources Committee| date=January 6, 2022|access-date=October 10, 2022}} and the Utilities and Energy Committee.{{cite web |url= https://autl.assembly.ca.gov/ |title= Utilities and Energy Committee| date=January 6, 2022|access-date=October 10, 2022}}
Mathis successfully authored 17 bills and 15 resolutions that were chaptered into state law; he was also listed as a joint author of 46 other measures and nine other resolutions.{{cite web |url= https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/home.xhtml |title= CA LIS| date=January 6, 2022|access-date=October 10, 2022}}
On November 27, 2023, Mathis announced that he would not be a candidate for re-election.{{cite web | url=https://sjvsun.com/news/devon-mathis-to-retire-from-assembly-after-10-year-run/ | title=Devon Mathis to retire from Assembly after 10-year run | date=November 28, 2023 }}
Personal life
Mathis lives in Porterville with his five children. He married Mistie Davis on October 6, 2023.{{cite web|date=December 5, 2018|title=Mathis sworn in for third term, named to Republican leadership post|url=https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2018/12/05/mathis-sworn-in-for-third-term-named-to-republican-leadership-post/|access-date=April 9, 2019|publisher=Valley Voice}}
Elections
=2014 California State Assembly =
{{see also|California State Assembly elections, 2014}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = California's 26th State Assembly district election, 2014
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Rudy Mendoza
| votes = 18,648
| percentage = 40.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Devon Mathis
| votes = 9,497
| percentage = 20.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Carlton Jones
| votes = 7,943
| percentage = 17.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Ruben Macareno
| votes = 3,755
| percentage = 8.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Derek A. Thomas
| votes = 2,872
| percentage = 6.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Teresita "Tess" Andres
| votes = 2,092
| percentage = 4.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Esther Barajas
| votes = 1,473
| percentage = 3.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 46,280
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Devon Mathis
| votes = 34,683
| percentage = 53.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Rudy Mendoza
| votes = 29,991
| percentage = 46.4
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 64,674
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Republican Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2016 California State Assembly =
{{see also|California State Assembly election, 2016}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = California's 26th State Assembly district election, 2016
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Devon Mathis (incumbent)
| votes = 28,563
| percentage = 42.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Ruben Macareno
| votes = 20,536
| percentage = 30.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Rudy Mendoza
| votes = 18,216
| percentage = 27.1
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 67,315
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Devon Mathis (incumbent)
| votes = 76,289
| percentage = 63.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Ruben Macareno
| votes = 44,205
| percentage = 36.7
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 120,494
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Republican Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2018 California State Assembly =
{{see also|California State Assembly election, 2018}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = California's 26th State Assembly district election, 2018
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Devon Mathis (incumbent)
| votes = 19081
| percentage = 30.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Jose Sigala
| votes = 18794
| percentage = 29.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Warren Gubler
| votes = 17650
| percentage = 28.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Jack Lavers
| votes = 7473
| percentage = 11.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 62998
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Devon Mathis (incumbent)
| votes = 62629
| percentage = 57.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Jose Sigala
| votes = 45558
| percentage = 42.1
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 108187
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Republican Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2020 California State Assembly =
{{see also|California State Assembly election, 2020}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = 2020 California's 26th State Assembly district election
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Devon Mathis (incumbent)
| votes = 49,413
| percentage = 61.5%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Drew Phelps
| votes = 30,981
| percentage = 38.5%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes =80,394
| percentage =100.0%
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = California Republican Party
|candidate = Devon Mathis (incumbent)
|votes = 85,005
|percentage = 54.9%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = California Democratic Party
|candidate = Drew Phelps
|votes = 69,717
|percentage = 45.1%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 154,722
|percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Republican Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2022 California State Assembly =
{{see also|2022 California State Assembly election}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = 2022 California's 33rd State Assembly district election
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Devon Mathis (incumbent)
| votes = 30,987
| percentage = 64.8%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Ruben Macareno
| votes = 7,272
| percentage = 15.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Jose Sigala
| votes = 9,528
| percentage = 19.9%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 47,787
| percentage =100.0%
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = California Republican Party
|candidate = Devon Mathis (incumbent)
|votes = 52,436
|percentage = 62.5%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = California Democratic Party
|candidate = Jose Sigala
|votes = 31,486
|percentage = 37.5%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 83,922
|percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Republican Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://ad26.asmrc.org/}}
- [http://devonmathis.com/ Campaign website]
- [https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-california-climate-change-vote-republicans-20170717-story.html/ A Bipartisan vote for climate action]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathis, Devon}}
Category:21st-century members of the California State Legislature
Category:California National Guard personnel
Category:California State University, Fresno alumni
Category:George Washington University alumni
Category:People from Porterville, California
Category:People from Visalia, California
Category:Republican Party members of the California State Assembly