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Matthew Rinker

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Matthew Rinker
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 99th district
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
Preceded byLindsay James
Personal details
Born1984 (age 39–40)
Burlington, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSophie
Children5
EducationSoutheastern Community College (AA)
Western Illinois University
OccupationInsurance agent, small business owner

Matthew B. Rinker (born 1984) is an American politician and insurance agent who has represented the 99th district of the Iowa House of Representatives since January 2023, which consists of parts of northeastern Lee County and southern Des Moines County, including all of Burlington and West Burlington. He is a member of the Republican Party.[1]

Early life and education[edit]

Rinker was born in 1984 in Burlington, Iowa, where he was also raised. He graduated from Burlington High School in 2003. He received an Associate of Arts in public policy from Southeastern Community College and a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Western Illinois University.[1][2]

Political career[edit]

Rinker was elected to the Burlington City Council in 2017, and was reelected in 2021. He resigned upon his election to the Iowa House.[2]

Rinker challenged Republican Tim Goodwin in the Iowa Senate primary elections for district 44 on June 2, 2020, and was defeated by over 1,900 votes.[3]

Rinker announced his candidacy for the 99th district of the Iowa House of Representatives following decennial redistricting in 2021. He won the Republican primaries on June 7, 2022, by 10 points and faced long-time Democratic incumbent Dennis Cohoon in the general election on November 8. A recount was ordered shortly after the election due to an issue with the absentee vote count, and the results were finalized on November 15 with Rinker winning by over 400 votes.[4][3]

Rinker endorsed Ron DeSantis for president in 2023.[5]

Rinker filed to run for reelection in 2024.[6] He won the Republican primaries on June 4, 2024, and will face Democrat Jim Beres in the general election.[3]

Rinker currently serves on the Local Government, Public Safety, and Veterans Affairs committees, the lattermost of which he is vice chair.[7]

Rinker has said that his priorities include housing, inflation, and mental health. He opposes abortion, except for cases of rape, incest, and endangerment of the mother, and supports the Second Amendment. He is in favor of expanding medical marijuana but opposes the legalization of recreational marijuana.[2]

Personal life[edit]

Rinker has a wife, Sophie, and five children. His third child died during childbirth in 2016.[8] He resides in Burlington.[1]

Rinker is an insurance agent and has owned a financial services business since 2013. He has also been a property developer since 2016. He previously served in the United States Navy as a Master-at-Arms for five years.[2]

Rinker has served as president of the Burlington Rotary Club and of Southeast Iowa Shop With a Cop.[2]

Electoral history[edit]

* = incumbent

Election Political result Candidate Party Votes %
Iowa Senate Republican primary elections, 2020 [3]
District 44
Turnout: 4,509		Republican Tim GoodwinRepublican3,21771.3
Matthew Rinker Republican1,27728.3
Other/Write-in votes 150.3
Iowa House of Representatives Republican primary elections, 2022 [3]
District 99
Turnout: 1,325		Republican Matthew RinkerRepublican72854.9
TJ Widbin Republican59544.9
Other/Write-in votes 20.2
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2022 [3]
District 99
Turnout: 10,501		Republican Matthew RinkerRepublican5,46852.1
Dennis Cohoon* Democratic5,00747.7
Other/Write-in votes 260.2

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "State Representative - All Years". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Niehaus, Michaele (November 6, 2022). "Meet the candidates for Iowa House District 99". Yahoo News. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Matthew Rinker". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  4. ^ Vidmar, Brad; Niehaus, Michaele. "Absentee vote recount needed in House District 99 race between Dennis Cohoon and Matt Rinker". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  5. ^ "Iowa State Senator Flips Endorsement from Trump to DeSantis". The Iowa Standard. July 13, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  6. ^ "primarycandidatelist.pdf" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  7. ^ "State Representative - Bills & Committees". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  8. ^ "Mia Rinker Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information". Legacy.com. June 6, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
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