Matthew Willard

Matthew Willard was born on November 5, 1988, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a Democratic politician who represents District 97 in the Louisiana House of Representatives. As of January 2026, he serves as a member of the New Orleans City Council as Councilmember At-Large, Division 1, after resigning from the state legislature.

Willard is known for his results-driven approach to governance, emphasizing bipartisan collaboration, fiscal responsibility, and meaningful legislation. He is a member of the Catholic faith and maintains strong ties to his community through various civic organizations.

Education

Willard earned a BS in Marketing from the University of New Orleans . He also attended Louisiana State University, studying Political Science and Government.

Political Experience

Willard was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in November 2019 and assumed office on January 13, 2020. During his first term, he passed more than 20 bills. In December 2023, he was elected as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. He served on the Ways and Means, Insurance, and Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs committees.

Notable Achievements

Legislative accomplishments include:
- Made the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program permanent
- Ended estimated water utility bills
- Capped out-of-pocket copayments for insulin
- Championed improvements to birth outcomes for Louisiana families and efforts to lower homeowners' insurance rates

Organizational leadership:
- Founded the bipartisan STEM Innovation Caucus, focused on K-12 STEM education, economic diversification, high-wage job creation, and workforce development
- Selected as a Future Caucus Innovation Fellow for the 2024 Healthcare Innovation and 2025–2026 Prenatal-to-Three cohorts

Recognition:
- Named Legislator of the Year by the Alliance for Good Government
- Selected as a Gambit 40 Under 40 honoree
- Received multiple awards for social advocacy and economic development initiatives

Professional Background

Before entering politics, Willard worked as an Account Executive at Schulkels Communications . He then joined Fluence Analytics as a Growth Specialist and later served as Senior Marketing Manager for Marketing and Communications. When Fluence Analytics was acquired by Yokogawa Electric Corporation in 2023, Willard continued his work with the company as Director of Marketing and Communications.