Who is Matthew Winterhawk?
Matthew Winterhawk is a husband, father, civic educator, nonprofit founder, and Nevada advocate who has dedicated his life to service, accountability, and empowering citizens to reclaim their voice in government.
Over the course of fifteen months, Winterhawk traveled more than 110,000 miles across Nevada, visiting all 17 counties, attending public meetings, speaking with families, educators, ranchers, veterans, tribal members, small business owners, and local officials.
Rather than relying on consultants, polling firms, or political insiders, he chose to learn directly from the people affected by the decisions being made in Carson City and Washington D.C.
His work has focused on government transparency, education accountability, water security, public lands, county finances, constitutional rights, and ensuring that local communities maintain control over their own future.
Winterhawk is the founder of SmartSlaps, a community-driven nonprofit dedicated to supporting schools and libraries through direct public participation and transparent accountability.
He is also an author and civic educator whose work emphasizes constitutional literacy, historical understanding, civic responsibility, and critical thinking.
As a husband and father of two, Ricky and Ava, Winterhawk believes leadership begins at home.
During the COVID era, while many families struggled to adapt, he transitioned his children to full-time homeschooling while simultaneously operating multiple small businesses and supporting families throughout Nevada and beyond.
Those experiences reinforced his belief that resilient communities are built through responsibility, adaptability, and service.
In 2022, Winterhawk helped support families involved in the We Will Not Be Silent movement in Plainview, Texas, providing advocacy assistance, public awareness efforts, and direct support to families seeking accountability.
The experience strengthened his conviction that leadership is not granted by title but demonstrated through action.
In 2026, Winterhawk mounted a statewide campaign for Governor of Nevada without PAC funding, corporate sponsorships, political consultants, or institutional support.
Traveling thousands of miles with the support of only his wife, his children, and a small group of volunteers, he earned thousands of votes across Nevada while focusing on issues often ignored by traditional campaigns.
His guiding principles remain unchanged:
• Accountability over excuses
• Transparency over secrecy
• Service over self-interest
• Local control over centralized power
• Truth over convenience
Winterhawk believes government works best when citizens are informed, engaged, and empowered.
Whether serving through advocacy, education, nonprofit work, media, or future public service, his mission remains the same:
Meet the people.
Tell the truth.
Do the work.
Nevada belongs to the people who call it home.