Matthew Louis Gaetz II[1] (/ɡeɪts/; born May 7, 1982) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Florida’s 1st congressional district since 2017. A member of the Republican Party, his district covers a large portion of the western Florida Panhandle, including Pensacola, Destin, Navarre and his hometown of Fort Walton Beach.
Prior to serving in Congress, Gaetz was a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the state’s 4th district, which includes most of Okaloosa County, from 2010 to 2016.