Heather Matson
Iowa State Representative, District 42 since 2018. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Ran in 5 elections between 2016 and 2024, winning 3. Won the 2026 race for Iowa Senate District 21.
- In office
- 7 yrs
- Since 2018
- Bills became law
- 0
- 72 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.6%
- Chamber median 3.8%
- With party
- 94%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +12.6
- Won 2026
- Elections
- 6
- 2016–2026
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Administration and Rules
- Appropriations
- Economic Growth and Technology
- Education
- Higher Education
- School Finance Formula Review
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
No bills in this list for the 2025–2026 session.
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Matson sits in the Iowa House of Representatives
Matson is closer to the center than 74% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Austin Baeth, Ken Croken, Adam Zabner
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:49 PM ET
With Matson’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats94%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Iowa House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Matson’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Matson | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2026 | HF 2542: A bill for an act relating to habitual offenders, and providing penalties. | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 66–20 |
| May 2, 2026 | SF 2490: A bill for an act relating to oil and gas production, including filing requirements, the… | No | No | Yes | Passed 65–21 |
| May 2, 2026 | HF 2771: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations involving state government… | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 66–18 |
| May 2, 2026 | SF 2472: A bill for an act relating to state and local government taxes, fees, financial… | No | No | Yes | Passed 62–22 |
| Apr 29, 2026 | SF 2218: A bill for an act relating to state regulatory compliance and eligibility requirements,… | No | No | Yes | Passed 71–20 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Matson was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Iowa State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+12.6 | R+2.2 | +14.8 |
| 2024 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 42 | Won | D+0.8 | R+0.7 | +1.5 |
| 2022 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 42 | Won | D+0.2 | D+0.6 | −0.4 |
| 2020 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 38 | Lost | R+0.8 | — | — |
| 2018 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 38 | Won | D+3.2 | — | — |
| 2016 | Iowa House of Representatives, District 38 | Lost | R+9.1 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Iowa Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $81.8K
- Spent
- $7.6K
Source: Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board filings through May 26, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 10:42 PM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Heather Matson for Iowa Senate State | Active |
Source: Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board filings through May 26, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 10:42 PM ET
Seats Matson has held
- Iowa House of Representatives, District 42 · since 2022
- Iowa House of Representatives, District 38 · since 2018
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Matson has run against
- John Hollinrake (R) · 2026 election, won
- Heather Stephenson (R) · 2024 election, won
- Garrett Gobble (R) · 2022 election, won
- Kevin Koester (R) · 2018 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Iowa Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Matson
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/ba713234-dc5e-4646-9f74-c25d84f648cc
- Wikidata Q96676328
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET