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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Matt Shea

A candidate for State Representative, position 1, Legislative District 4 (Spokane Valley) in the 2016 Washington General Election, Nov. 8

Party: Republican

Age: 50

City: Spokane Valley, WA

Occupation: Lawyer

Education: Graduated from high school in Bellingham. Earned bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Gonzaga University in 1996. Earned law degree from Gonzaga in 2006.

Political experience: Elected to state House every two years since 2008. Serves as assistant ranking minority member on the House’s Labor and Workforce and Judiciary committees.

Work experience: Attorney at M. Casey Law since 2013. Formerly handled personal injury cases at Keith S. Douglass and Associates. Co-founded the Washington Family Foundation. Served 4 ½ years in the army, entering as a lieutenant in 1996, including eight months in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Later served 11 months in Iraq as a captain in the Army and Army National Guard. 

Family: Divorced and remarried. No children.

Contact information

More about Matt Shea

Race Results

Candidate Votes Pct
Matt Shea (R) 40,541 64.43%
Scott V. Stucker (D) 22,381 35.57%

Details & headlines

Related Coverage

Shea cheers refuge occupiers’ verdict

State Rep. Matt Shea, who at one point during the National Wildlife Refuge standoff, traveled to Oregon as part of a legislative contingent, cheered the jury verdict that acquitted seven occupiers.

Matt Shea vs. Scott Stucker: Not much campaigning by either candidate in 4th District race

When the popular Spokane County sheriff, a Republican, called on the local GOP to censure state Rep. Matt Shea, it seemed like an opening was created for a serious challenge to Shea’s re-election bid. But Shea’s challenger, Scott Stucker, is a political newbie and Bernie Sanders Democrat with no campaign experience and few things to say, other than he’s running to give voters in the 4th District a choice.

Spokane County Commission candidates debate jobs, justice, housing … and Matt Shea

In one of their first debates Monday, Shelly O’Quinn sought to defend her record on the Spokane County Commission while challenger Andrew Biviano criticized a lack of “urgency” in the county’s efforts at criminal justice reform.

Shawn Vestal: Republicans, it’s time to defend Ozzie Knezovich against Matt Shea’s ‘slimes and slanders’

Shawn Vestal says it’s past time for Republican politcians and party leaders to publicly defend Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich from Rep. Matt Shea’s “slimes and slanders.”

Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich says local GOP leaders reluctant to censure Rep. Matt Shea, fear far-right reprisals from the legislator

Spokane-area Republicans in elected offices appear unwilling to criticize state Rep. Matt Shea for his attacks on the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, who has called on party leaders to censure Shea after he linked a triple homicide to a Spokane deputy, says Republicans are afraid to do so

Ozzie Knezovich blasts Matt Shea podcast that links sheriff’s office to triple murder

A state legislator’s claim that a fiery triple homicide north of Spokane is connected to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office drew a furious rebuke and threat of politicial payback by Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich.

Shawn Vestal: Anti-Muslim lobby hungry for falsehood

ACT for America – an anti-Muslim group with chapters around the country fermenting sour, ignorant racism – claims that it is leading a fight against Islamic terrorism. Its chief weapon? Smoldering piles of manure.

Matt Shea takes surprise positions at debate team fundraiser

Republican State Rep. Matt Shea made a shocking, impassioned call for free college tuition Monday evening.

Rep. Matt Shea’s trips to Bundy protests didn’t break ethics rules, board rules

A state board dismissed an ethics complaint against State Rep. Matt Shea for traveling to two protests against federal land policies.

Shea cleared of ethics complaint for trips to Bundy protests

Spokane Valley legislator didn’t violate ethics rules by making trips to protests over federal land policies, board rules.