Chris Mathias is a Democratic state representative for Idaho House District 19B, based in Boise. He is the only Black member of Idaho's legislature, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, and lives with his wife and children. Notable achievements include serving on the Council on Criminal Justice’s Women’s Justice Commission, addressing Idaho's high female incarceration rate, and delivering a prominent 11-minute speech on critical race theory and education as a freshman legislator. He also serves on the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee and previously on Idaho’s Criminal Justice Commission .

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Earned a criminal justice degree from Boise State University ; JD and PhD in Law and Public Policy. Interned at the Idaho Supreme Court to launch problem-solving courts; law clerk for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
• Political Experience: Elected to Idaho House District 19B . U.S. Coast Guard veteran with top-secret clearance, law enforcement, and search and rescue experience. Works as an educational consultant; focuses on school safety, education bills, and criminal justice reform.