Matthew Hayden Smith is an American politician. He is a member of the Democratic Party

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 and currently serves in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....

.

Smith is the son of James and Janice Smith who also were born and raised in the Mount Lebanon

Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Mt. Lebanon is a home rule municipality, formerly a township, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 33,137 at the 2010 census....

, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. Smith is a graduate of Rollins College

Rollins College

Rollins College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida , along the shores of Lake Virginia....

 at Winter Park

Winter Park, Florida

Winter Park is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,090 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 28,083. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...

, Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

 with a degree in history. He graduated from the Duquesne University School of Law

Duquesne University School of Law

Duquesne University School of Law is a private Catholic university law school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The School of Law was founded in 1911, and is the only multiple-division law school in western Pennsylvania. Located on the Duquesne University campus, the law school is walking...

 with honors in 1999. He lives in Mount Lebanon

Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Mt. Lebanon is a home rule municipality, formerly a township, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 33,137 at the 2010 census....

, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

 with his wife, Eileen Smith. Prior to elective office, Smith worked for Babst, Calland, Clements and Zomnir, P.C.

Smith was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....

 in 2006, defeating 21-year-old Republican Mark Harris

Mark Harris (politician)

Mark Harris is a US politician based out of Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Harris won fame in May 2006 when he beat Thomas L. Stevenson, a five-term incumbent in a district Republican primary for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He is currently the campaign manager for Pat Toomey's campaign...

, who had defeated incumbent Thomas L. Stevenson

Thomas L. Stevenson

Thomas L. Stevenson is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he represented the 42nd legislative district from 1997 through 2006.Stevenson served as chair of the House Ethics Committee...

 in the Republican primary.

Electoral history

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ Pennsylvania House of Representatives: Results 2006–2008
!|Year
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2006

Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2006

The 2006 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 7, 2006, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on May 16, 2006. Members elected in 2006 were inaugurated on January 2, 2007...

|
| |Mark Harris

Mark Harris

Mark Harris may refer to:*Mark Harris , Welsh professional bodybuilder*Mark Harris , American writer of the baseball novel Bang the Drum Slowly*Mark Harris English association football player...

| align="right" |11,795
| |41.6%
||
| |Matt Smith
| align="right" |16,568
| |58.4%
|
|-
|2008

Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2008

The 2008 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 4, 2008, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on April 22, 2008. The term of office for those elected in 2008 will run from January 6, 2009 until November 2010...

|
| |Jim Blazeck
| align="right" |12,139
| |34.6%
|
| |Matt Smith
| align="right" |22,919
| |65.4%
|
|-
|2010

Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2010

The 2010 elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 2, 2010, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on May 18, 2010. The term of office for those elected in 2010 will run from January 4, 2011 until November 30, 2012...

|
| |Sue Means
| align="right" |10,591
| |40.2%
|
| |Matt Smith
| align="right" |15,740
| |59.8%