Eric Matthews

Eric Matthews is a Democratic politician representing the 66th District in the Montana House of Representatives. Born in 1974, he is a native of Bozeman, Montana, and has been an active member of the community for decades. Matthews graduated from Bozeman High School in 1992 and earned two degrees from Montana State University.

Throughout his career, Matthews has been deeply involved in labor advocacy and education. For 25 years, he has worked as a teacher at Chief Joseph Middle School in Bozeman. He also spent a decade working as a bartender at the Haufbrau, giving him firsthand experience with working-class employment in Montana.

Education and Professional Background

Matthews holds two degrees from Montana State University and is a graduate of Bozeman High School . His professional experience spans both education and service industry work, with his primary career as a teacher at Chief Joseph Middle School spanning 25 years.

Political Experience

Matthews has been an active leader in the Bozeman school district for more than 20 years, serving as Vice President of the Bozeman Education Association for 8 years, where he helped negotiate contracts for educators and advocated for fair wages for school staff.

In 2018, Matthews joined the board of the Montana Federation of Public Employees , Montana's largest workers union. He was elected as First Vice President of MFPE in 2021, further cementing his role as an advocate for working Montanans.

Matthews was first elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 2022, running unopposed in both the Democratic primary and general election after former Representative Denise Hayman did not seek re-election. During his first legislative session, he championed workers' rights, pushed for increased funding for public education, and fought against what he viewed as misguided attacks on public education.

In 2024, Matthews ran for re-election in House District 66 and won with 56% of the vote, securing his continued representation of Bozeman in the Montana legislature.