{ "id": "ep3jtntwve", "slug": "chris-mathis", "title": "Chris Mathis", "updated": "2026-09-29", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": 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"geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators", "label": "State legislators", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.western-and-pacific-state-legislators", "label": "Western and Pacific state legislators", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.western-and-pacific-state-legislators" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.western-and-pacific-state-legislators.alpha-i-to-m", "label": "Surnames I to M", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.western-and-pacific-state-legislators.alpha-i-to-m" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Chris Mathis is an American Democratic member of the Arizona House of Representatives representing Tucson's 18th district, appointed in 2021, elected in 2022, and serving as Democratic Whip.", "snippet": "Chris Mathis is an American Democratic member of the Arizona House of Representatives representing Tucson's 18th district, appointed in 2021, elected in 2022, and serving as Democratic Whip.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.western-and-pacific-state-legislators.alpha-i-to-m", "markdown": "# Chris Mathis\n\nChris Mathis is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Arizona House of Representatives, representing the 18th district.[1](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&session=123&legislator=2103) He was appointed to the House in 2021 to represent Legislative District 9 and was elected in 2022 to a full term representing District 18.[2](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=57&session=129&legislator=2322) He serves as Democratic Whip in his caucus.[3](https://www.azcleanelections.gov/arizona-elections/voter-education-guide/primary-text-legislative18)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Party | Democratic[1](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&session=123&legislator=2103) |\n| Current office | Member, Arizona House of Representatives, District 18[1](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&session=123&legislator=2103) |\n| Previous offices | Member, Arizona House of Representatives, District 9 (appointed, 2021)[2](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=57&session=129&legislator=2322) |\n| Education | Master in Public Administration, Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government; Master in Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health; law and undergraduate degrees, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign[4](https://www.mathisforaz.com/) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nMathis is a Democrat.[1](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&session=123&legislator=2103)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nMathis lives with his wife, Colleen, in Tucson.[1](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&session=123&legislator=2103) He and Colleen live in the Catalina Foothills with their dog, Marigold.[4](https://www.mathisforaz.com/) Colleen served as the Chair of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, having been unanimously chosen as Chair in early 2011.[4](https://www.mathisforaz.com/) Mathis earned a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, a Master in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health, and law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.[4](https://www.mathisforaz.com/)\n\nBefore moving to Tucson in 2001, Mathis practiced law in Illinois and worked in the [Illinois General Assembly](https://www.edgepedia.org/illinois-general-assembly), the U.S. House of Representatives, and the British Parliament, and served as a Health Care Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator [Chuck Hagel](https://www.edgepedia.org/chuck-hagel).[4](https://www.mathisforaz.com/) He formerly served as Director of Policy & Communications at the Healthcare Markets & Regulation (HMR) Lab at Harvard Medical School and as Southern Arizona Coordinator for the Flinn-Brown Fellows Civic Leadership Program.[1](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&session=123&legislator=2103)\n\n## Career\n\nMathis practices elder law, helping older Tucsonans and their families resolve issues related to long-term care, public benefits, senior housing, and estate planning.[4](https://www.mathisforaz.com/) He is a Professor of Practice at the [University of Arizona](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-arizona)'s James E. Rogers College of Law, where he teaches classes on Health Care Law & Policy and Aging, and is a member of the Arizona Education Association.[1](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&session=123&legislator=2103)\n\nIn December 2020, Mathis was appointed to represent Legislative District 9 in the Arizona House of Representatives, beginning service in 2021.[1](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&session=123&legislator=2103) • [2](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=57&session=129&legislator=2322) He was elected in 2022 to a full term representing District 18 and was re-elected in 2024.[2](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=57&session=129&legislator=2322) • [4](https://www.mathisforaz.com/) In the [Legislature](https://www.edgepedia.org/legislature), he is the ranking House member on the Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee and the Ethics Committee, and serves on the Health and Human Services and Rules Committees.[4](https://www.mathisforaz.com/) He has also served as a member of the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference and the Joint Legislative Committee on DES Block Grants.[2](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=57&session=129&legislator=2322) • [5](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=56&session=127&legislator=2180) He was elected by his caucus to serve as Democratic Whip.[3](https://www.azcleanelections.gov/arizona-elections/voter-education-guide/primary-text-legislative18)\n\n## Positions and legislative record\n\n### Education\n\nIn his 2024 voter education guide statement, Mathis wrote, \"I would like to continue my work to protect and fully fund our public schools, because as a teacher, I have seen the devastating effects of the lack of funding and campaign of disrespect that has been happening for years in Arizona.\"[3](https://www.azcleanelections.gov/arizona-elections/voter-education-guide/primary-text-legislative18)\n\n### Labor\n\nMathis has said, \"As a union member, I will continue to work hard for all workers in Arizona that they have good pay and benefits.\"[3](https://www.azcleanelections.gov/arizona-elections/voter-education-guide/primary-text-legislative18)\n\n### Reproductive rights\n\nIn his voter education guide statement, Mathis wrote, \"We must guarantee the right to abortion and all reproductive services for the people of Arizona and I will continue to do so.\"[3](https://www.azcleanelections.gov/arizona-elections/voter-education-guide/primary-text-legislative18) His campaign website describes him as a \"pro-choice\" leader and states that in the Legislature he has worked to \"restore reproductive rights\".[4](https://www.mathisforaz.com/)\n\n### Gun policy\n\nMathis has written, \"I will advance my work for gun sense legislation so that we are safer in our schools and communities.\"[3](https://www.azcleanelections.gov/arizona-elections/voter-education-guide/primary-text-legislative18) His campaign website states that he has worked to \"pass common-sense gun safety laws\".[4](https://www.mathisforaz.com/)\n\n### Water and environment\n\nMathis's campaign website states that in the Legislature he has worked to \"preserve Arizona's precious water resources\" and describes him as a \"pro-environment\" leader.[4](https://www.mathisforaz.com/) He is the ranking House member on the Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee.[4](https://www.mathisforaz.com/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Chris Mathis, Arizona House of Representatives](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&session=123&legislator=2103)\n2. [Christopher Mathis, Arizona House of Representatives](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=57&session=129&legislator=2322)\n3. [Arizona Clean Elections Voter Education Guide, Legislative District 18](https://www.azcleanelections.gov/arizona-elections/voter-education-guide/primary-text-legislative18)\n4. [Mathis for Arizona](https://www.mathisforaz.com/)\n5. [Christopher Mathis, Arizona House of Representatives](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=56&session=127&legislator=2180)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US governors and state officials › State legislators › Western and Pacific state legislators › Surnames I to M*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-mathis", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-mathis.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Chris Mathis\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-mathis. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Chris Mathis](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-mathis)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-mathis](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-mathis). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Chris Mathis\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-mathis. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Chris Mathis is an American Democratic member of the Arizona House of Representatives representing Tucson's 18th district, appointed in 2021, elected in 2022, and serving as Democratic Whip." }