Matt Schultz

Matt Schultz
Name	Matt Schultz
Birth date	1979
Occupation	Attorney, politician
Office	Iowa Secretary of State
Party	Republican Party (United States)
Alma mater	Iowa State University; University of Iowa College of Law

Matt Schultz is an American attorney and Republican politician who served as the Iowa Secretary of State from 2011 to 2015. During his term he emphasized voter fraud enforcement, election integrity measures, and business services administration, attracting national attention for aggressive legal actions and administrative initiatives. Schultz's tenure involved a mix of statewide policy changes, litigation, and controversies that influenced debates among Republican Party (United States), Democratic Party (United States), and civil liberties organizations.

Early life and education

Schultz was born in 1979 and raised in Iowa. He attended Iowa State University, where he completed undergraduate studies and engaged with campus organizations associated with Republican Party (United States) politics and public policy. Schultz later earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law, studying subjects including election law, administrative law, and litigation practice relevant to roles in state executive offices and regulatory boards. His legal training preceded positions in private practice and work with party-affiliated campaigns, providing experience with electoral procedures overseen by state offices such as Iowa Secretary of State.

Political career

Schultz's early political activity included involvement with Republican Party (United States) campaigns, state legislative initiatives, and local party organizations in Iowa. He served as general counsel and campaign counsel for various Republican candidates and organizations, interfacing with state election authorities and national groups such as American Legislative Exchange Council and conservative advocacy entities. In 2010, Schultz ran in the Iowa Secretary of State election as the Republican nominee, campaigning on platforms tied to voter identification, business services modernization, and election security. His campaign engaged with statewide party infrastructure including county parties, congressional campaigns, and national Republican networks that mobilized support during midterm election cycles.

Tenure as Iowa Secretary of State

As Iowa Secretary of State, Schultz administered duties including oversight of statewide elections, business filings, and notary public commissions. He prioritized measures promoted by conservative stakeholders, including enforcement actions against alleged voter fraud, advocacy for stricter voter identification standards, and outreach to veterans and military voters connecting with organizations like Department of Defense (United States) voting assistance programs. Schultz directed the office's business services division to streamline filings and interacted with entities such as the Iowa Association of Business and Industry regarding regulatory compliance and online services. He also participated in interjurisdictional dialogues with other secretaries of state from states like Kansas and Arizona on election security protocols and cross-state information sharing.

Under Schultz, the office pursued litigation and administrative processes concerning ballot access, provisional ballot handling, and registration challenges, engaging with courts in Polk County, Iowa and state appellate venues. His tenure involved cooperation and conflict with statewide officials including the Iowa Governor and legislative leaders over election statutes, appointment authorities, and budgetary allocations affecting the secretary of state's office. Schultz's administration issued guidance to county auditors, coordinated with county boards of supervisors, and contributed to statewide voter education efforts marketed through channels connected to the Iowa Secretary of State office.

Controversies and legal issues

Schultz's time in office generated significant controversies, particularly around aggressive investigations into alleged voter fraud and the implementation of enforcement procedures that drew criticism from American Civil Liberties Union affiliates, civil rights groups, and Democratic Party (United States) officials. Several investigations initiated by the office resulted in legal challenges brought by individuals and advocacy organizations before state courts and administrative tribunals. Media outlets and editorial boards in Iowa and national publications covered disputes over subpoenas, production of voter data, and the scope of prosecutorial authority within the secretary of state's remit.

Following his tenure, Schultz faced additional legal scrutiny related to actions taken during and after his term, including complaints to state ethics bodies and litigation concerning records and program administration. Some matters involved coordination with county-level officials and private consultants, prompting inquiries by state investigators and coverage by investigative reporters at newspapers in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and other Iowa cities. These controversies influenced debates in the Iowa Legislature and among state election administrators about statutory reforms and oversight mechanisms for statewide elected officers.

Personal life and career after politics

After leaving elected office, Schultz resumed practice as an attorney, providing legal services involving administrative procedure, election law, and business filings. He worked with law firms and consulting organizations that serve clients across Iowa and in other Midwestern states, engaging with municipal and private-sector actors on regulatory compliance and litigation. Schultz has been involved with political commentary and advocacy in conservative circles, appearing at events hosted by organizations aligned with Republican Party (United States) policy priorities and election administration forums.

In his private life, Schultz has ties to communities in Iowa where he resides and participates in professional associations connected to the legal profession and notary services. He remains a figure referenced in discussions on state election administration and enforcement of voter eligibility standards, cited by both supporters who emphasize anti-fraud measures and critics who raise concerns about access to participation for certain voter populations. Category:Iowa politicians