Matt Fariss

American politician

Matt Fariss

Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 59th district
In office
January 11, 2012 – January 10, 2024
Preceded by| Watkins Abbitt, Jr.
Succeeded by| Buddy Fowler (redistricting)
Personal details
Born|

Charles Matthew Fariss

(1968-05-11) May 11, 1968 (age 55)
Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.
Political party| Independent (2023-present)
Other political
affiliations| Republican (2011-2023)
Spouse| Crystal Dawn Brown
Children| Hunter, Bobby, Harrison
Residence| Rustburg, Virginia
Occupation| Farmer, businessperson
Committees| Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Militia, Police and Public Safety[update]
Website| www.mattfariss.com

Charles Matthew Fariss (born May 11, 1968) is an American politician. An Independent, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2011, though he was a Republican at the time, having left the party in 2023. He currently represents[update] the 59th district, made up of Appomattox County and Buckingham counties, and parts of Albemarle, Campbell, and Nelson counties between Charlottesville and Lynchburg.[1][2]

## Early life, education, business career[edit]

Fariss grew up on a farm. After graduating from Rustburg High School, he went into farming himself, and expanded into other related businesses, including co-ownership of the Lynchburg Livestock Market.[1][2]

Fariss married Crystal Dawn Brown. They have three children, Hunter, Bobby and Harrison.[1]

## Political career[edit]

The 59th district incumbent, independent Watkins Abbitt, Jr., retired in 2011 after 26 years of service. Fariss, the Republican nominee, won a three-way race against Democrat Connie Brennan and independent Linda M. Wall, receiving 52.98% of the vote.[3] Fariss is a social conservative, and opposes abortion, as well as same-sex marriage: "As delegate, he will oppose any effort on the state or local level to allow for marriage, partnership benefits, or recognition. Matt will work diligently to ensure that what has happened in New York and elsewhere will never happen in Virginia."[4]

In January 2016, Fariss was charged with two incidents. These included a misdemeanor breach of peace[5] and a hit and run accident in which property was damaged but no people were hurt.[6]

In October 2019, Fariss potentially violated Virginia campaign finance code by holding a fundraiser via raffle.[7]

In 2023, Fariss was charged with malicious wounding, failing to stop after an accident, and reckless driving after striking a woman with his SUV. Prior to striking the woman, Fariss had been angrily demanding that the woman get back into his vehicle after she left his vehicle on foot to get away from him. Fariss fled after a bystander who witnessed the scene shouted out.[8]

On June 20, 2023, Fariss filed for reelection as an Independent after having missed the GOP Legislative District Committee's March 30 deadline amid legal troubles.[9]

On November 7, 2023, Fariss finished third in a three-way race, losing to Republican nominee and winner Eric Zehr (69%) as well as Democratic nominee Kimberly Moran (22%), garnering approximately 8% of the vote.[10]

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Virginia House of Delegates 2012; Delegate C. Matthew Fariss;". Virginia House of Delegates. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
2. ^ a b "Matt Fariss, Delegate". Retrieved November 2, 2012.
3. ^ "November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 20, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
4. ^ "On the Issues". Retrieved April 25, 2018.
5. ^ Cioffi, Chris. "Del. Fariss charged with hit-and-run; July incident damaged shrubbery, fencing". The News & Advance. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
6. ^ Rohr, Alex. "Fariss pleads guilty in hit-and-run case". Retrieved April 25, 2018.
7. ^ Hammel, Tyler. "Va. Delegate may have violated state code by fundraising via raffle". The Daily Progress. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
8. ^ Gettys, Travis. "Road-raging Republican hits woman with SUV after 'angry and abusive' reaction to flat tire". Raw Story. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
9. ^ Frolo, Caitlyn (June 27, 2023). "Del. Matt Fariss files for reelection as an Independent amid legal troubles". WSET. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
10. ^ "Election Results". enr.elections.virginia.gov. Retrieved January 11, 2024.

## External links[edit]

* "Delegate Matt Fariss (R-Rustburg)". Richmond Sunlight.
* "Matt Fariss". Virginia Public Access Project.
* "Election Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on June 17, 2010.
* "Fariss pleads guilty in hit-and-run case". The Daily Progress.

* v
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Members of the Virginia House of Delegates

162nd General Assembly (2024−2026)

Speaker of the House
Don Scott (D)
Majority Leader
Charniele Herring (D)
Minority Leader
Todd Gilbert (R)

1. ▌Patrick Hope (D)
2. ▌Adele McClure (D)
3. ▌Alfonso Lopez (D)
4. ▌Charniele Herring (D)
5. ▌Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D)
6. ▌Rip Sullivan (D)
7. ▌Karen Keys-Gamarra (D)
8. ▌Irene Shin (D)
9. ▌Karrie Delaney (D)
10. ▌Dan Helmer (D)
11. ▌David Bulova (D)
12. ▌Holly Seibold (D)
13. ▌Marcus Simon (D)
14. ▌Vivian Watts (D)
15. ▌Laura Jane Cohen (D)
16. ▌Paul Krizek (D)
17. ▌Mark Sickles (D)
18. ▌Kathy Tran (D)
19. ▌Rozia Henson (D)
20. ▌Michelle Maldonado (D)
21. ▌Josh Thomas (D)
22. ▌Ian Lovejoy (R)
23. ▌Candi King (D)
24. ▌Luke Torian (D)
25. ▌Briana Sewell (D)
26. ▌Kannan Srinivasan (D)
27. ▌Atoosa Reaser (D)
28. ▌David Reid (D)
29. ▌Marty Martinez (D)
30. ▌Geary Higgins (R)
31. ▌Delores Riley Oates (R)
32. ▌Bill Wiley (R)
33. ▌Todd Gilbert (R)
34. ▌Tony Wilt (R)
35. ▌Chris Runion (R)
36. ▌Ellen Campbell (R)
37. ▌Terry Austin (R)
38. ▌Sam Rasoul (D)
39. ▌Will Davis (R)
40. ▌Joe McNamara (R)
41. ▌Chris Obenshain (R)
42. ▌Jason Ballard (R)
43. ▌Will Morefield (R)
44. ▌Israel O'Quinn (R)
45. ▌Terry Kilgore (R)
46. ▌Jed Arnold (R)
47. ▌Wren Williams (R)
48. ▌Eric Phillips (R)
49. ▌Danny Marshall (R)
50. ▌Tommy Wright (R)
51. ▌Eric Zehr (R)
52. ▌Wendell Walker (R)
53. ▌Tim Griffin (R)
54. ▌Katrina Callsen (D)
55. ▌Amy Laufer (D)
56. ▌Tom Garrett (R)
57. ▌David Owen (R)
58. ▌Rodney Willett (D)
59. ▌Buddy Fowler (R)
60. ▌Scott Wyatt (R)
61. ▌Michael Webert (R)
62. ▌Nick Freitas (R)
63. ▌Phillip Scott (R)
64. ▌Paul Milde (R)
65. ▌Joshua G. Cole (D)
66. ▌Bobby Orrock (R)
67. ▌Hillary Pugh Kent (R)
68. ▌Keith Hodges (R)
69. ▌Chad Green (R)
70. ▌Shelly Simonds (D)
71. ▌Amanda Batten (R)
72. ▌Lee Ware (R)
73. ▌Mark Earley Jr. (R)
74. ▌Mike Cherry (R)
75. ▌Carrie Coyner (R)
76. ▌Debra Gardner (D)
77. ▌Michael Jones (D)
78. ▌Betsy B. Carr (D)
79. ▌Rae Cousins (D)
80. ▌Destiny Levere Bolling (D)
81. ▌Delores McQuinn (D)
82. ▌Kim Taylor (R)
83. ▌Otto Wachsmann (R)
84. ▌Nadarius Clark (D)
85. ▌Marcia Price (D)
86. ▌A.C. Cordoza (R)
87. ▌Jeion Ward (D)
88. ▌Don Scott (D)
89. ▌Baxter Ennis (R)
90. ▌Jay Leftwich (R)
91. ▌Cliff Hayes (D)
92. ▌Bonita Anthony (D)
93. ▌Jackie Glass (D)
94. ▌Phil Hernandez (D)
95. ▌Alex Askew (D)
96. ▌Kelly Convirs-Fowler (D)
97. ▌Michael Feggans (D)
98. ▌Barry Knight (R)
99. ▌Anne Ferrell Tata (R)
100. ▌Robert Bloxom Jr. (R)

* ▌Democratic (51)
* ▌Republican (49)

* Virginia General Assembly
* Virginia House of Delegates
* Senate of Virginia

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