Matthew Dawson
Rhode Island State Representative, District 65 since 2022. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 3 yrs
- Since 2022
- Bills became law
- 60
- 274 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 14.2%
- Chamber median 6.6%
- With party
- 99%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +92.2
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Judiciary · second vice chair
- Municipal Government and Housing
- Special Legislation
- State Government and Elections
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Became law Jun 2026
Became law Jun 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Dawson sits in the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Dawson is closer to the center than 25% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Mia Ackerman, Grace Diaz, June Speakman
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET
With Dawson’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats99%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Rhode Island House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Dawson’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Dawson | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2026 | SB 2575: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 48–8 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | HB 7538: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BY HEALTHCARE… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 54–14 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | SB 2570: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BY HEALTHCARE… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 53–14 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | SR 3368: JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RHODE ISLAND'S… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 60–9 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | SB 3370: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 51–5 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Dawson 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 | Rhode Island House District 65 | Won | D+92.2 | D+22.7 | +69.5 |
| 2024 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 65 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2022 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 65 | Won | D+33.3 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Rhode Island Board of Elections (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $32.1K
- Spent
- $25.9K
- Cash
- $17.1K
Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections filings through Oct 26, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 7:18 PM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| MATTHEW S DAWSON State | Active |
Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections filings through Oct 26, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 7:18 PM ET
Seats Dawson has held
- Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 65 · since 2022
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Dawson has run against
- Write-in (I) · 2026 general, won
- John R. Peters (R) · 2022 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Rhode Island Board of Elections (unofficial)
How we know Dawson
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/bffdb553-5c5c-403e-8e2c-47b34a7b50f5
- Wikidata Q118220155
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET