About me
My name is Zane Matter. I was born in Hays, Kansas, but moved to Florida as a young child, eventually settling in Osceola County. I attended elementary school in Saint Cloud before transitioning to homeschooling. Later, I pursued higher education at Valencia College and the University of North Florida, where I studied business management.
My passion for politics began early. In 2016, I started by knocking on doors in Orange County for President Trump's campaign. By 2018, I was interning for a state legislator and then went on to work on a Florida House campaign, eventually serving as treasurer. In 2020, I became campaign manager for Barbara Cady in what turned out to be one of the most watched legislative races in the state. Though we narrowly lost by just 1%, it fueled my commitment even more.
After redistricting in 2022, Florida’s new House District 35 was created, covering parts of Orange and Osceola counties. I joined Navy veteran Tom Keen’s campaign as manager. He lost the primary by only 57 votes, and though the Democratic nominee went on to lose in the general, it set the stage for a comeback. Just a year later, the incumbent resigned to become a college president, and I once again took the reins as Keen’s campaign manager. This time, we won both the primary and general election—against a well-funded opponent and former school board member. I then joined Rep. Keen’s legislative office and served there until November 2024, when he unfortunately lost re-election.
One issue I’ve grown especially passionate about is gerrymandering. I've seen firsthand how it disrupts communities—forcing together areas with vastly different needs and leaving constituents confused as to why their representative lives 50 to 100 miles away. It dilutes community voices and complicates everything from appropriations to basic access to elected officials.
Outside of my legislative work, I enjoy traveling, staying up-to-date with the latest car news, attending auto shows, and—yes—watching C-SPAN, even on the go.