Get to know State Strategist Matt Wiltshire in today’s #MeetMajority.
Based in Houston, Texas, Matt joins the Majority Strategies team after two years working as an advisor to Congressman Dan Crenshaw. Matt’s experience also includes working with over a dozen races from local judicial to gubernatorial.
Matt, where are you from originally?
Born in Port Chester, New York, I spent my formative years living in Hong Kong. My first actual memory of being on US soil was when an American aircraft carrier visited the island and tours were given to American expats. I have since lived all over — England, Puerto Rico, Spain, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and finally settled down in Texas.
Tell us about your family.
My mother’s side is from Puerto Rico, so I grew up speaking Spanish. My dad is from rural Oklahoma. I have a younger sister and a large extended family spread across the country and abroad.
Where did you go to school?
I went to boarding school at St. Andrew’s School in Delaware (where the movie Dead Poets Society was filmed) and attended Hamilton College and the University of Houston.
How would you describe yourself?
“I hate losing… I hate it. I hate losing more than I even wanna win.” —Moneyball
What is the last book you read?
The Presidents Club by Michael Duffy and Nancy Gibbs
What is your favorite song?
I don’t know about my favorite song but Ke$ha is the greatest musician of the 21st century. People think I’m joking but I am dead serious.
Who is your favorite president?
JFK — so much potential cut short.
What motivates you to tackle the day?
My father worked in the World Trade Center both when it was bombed in ’93 and on 9/11 (thankfully he survived). That experience is what motivated me to get into politics. I keep a photograph of Wall St. draped in the American flag taken shortly after 9/11 by my desk and it reminds me every day of why I do what I do.
What’s the toughest lesson you’ve learned?
Failure is only one step in learning to be better.
What would you consider your greatest accomplishment?
I’m sure it sounds corny but the friends that I have made — nothing is more important to me than the relationships I have built over the years.
How would your best friend describe you in three words?
Loyal, genuine, hilarious.
What was your most memorable campaign?
Dan Crenshaw’s reelection. A high-profile race that taught me a lot about myself. Every day was different and learning to adapt a campaign to the post-COVID environment on the fly was an exhilarating experience. Filming Crenshaw’s first Texas Reloaded ad was something I will never forget.
What was your first campaign?
Robert Dold for Congress (2010 campaign in IL-10)
Best day on the campaign trail?
I have a pre-early voting ritual: I load up my convertible with campaign signs and spend the entire night delivering signs to polling locations while enjoying my favorite cigar (let’s be honest… cigars). It’s a relaxing time which signifies that home stretch is upon us with the light at the end of the tunnel.
Tell us about your favorite vacation.
Every opportunity I get to visit Spain is a dream. The people, the food, the culture, the history—it’s all just remarkable. Getting out into the countryside and sitting around the dinner table for sobremesa is a tradition I wish we could adopt in the States.
What is your favorite ad of all time?
The ad for the 2019 MLB postseason, “We Play Loud”
What’s on your bucket list?
I hope to someday walk the Camino de Santiago—a Catholic pilgrimage from southern France to the Atlantic Ocean.
Why Majority Strategies?
I wanted to work with the best. Majority Strategies leads the nation in helping Republicans win and helping our clients achieve their diverse objectives. Life is a never-ending series of opportunities for learning and growth. Being surrounded by the best minds in politics is the best way I can see for my personal growth and for the benefit of the candidates, advocacy groups, and brands that I work with.
Thanks, Matt!
Reach out to Matt today to get started, and learn more about the entire Majority Strategies team here.