Matthew Winterhawk
Matthew Winterhawk is a Republican candidate for governor of Nevada in 2026. His campaign describes him as a father of two, husband, business operator, nonprofit founder, and civic reformer, and Ballotpedia identifies him as a candidate in the Republican primary on June 9, 2026.
Positions on Key Issues
| Issue | Stance | Confidence | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Winterhawk does not appear to have a broad public healthcare platform. His published materials emphasize parental consent and parental direction over children’s upbringing, education, healthcare, and values, and say medical, social, or psychological intervention in children should not occur without parental consent. | ◐ medium | |
| Economy | Winterhawk says he would create an Office of Government Waste & Accountability and a Department of Government Efficiency to audit agencies, publish spending dashboards, and reduce waste. He also says he would freeze non-emergency regulations, review costs, and replace underperforming agency leadership to improve conditions for small businesses and local ownership. | ● high | |
| Climate/Energy | Winterhawk frames climate and energy policy through Nevada sovereignty over land and water. He supports auditing federal water contracts and advancing the Nevada Land Sovereignty and Reclamation Act to keep land- and resource-related revenues in Nevada and fund drought mitigation and conservation. | ● high | |
| Abortion & Reproductive Health | No public position found on abortion or broader reproductive-rights policy. His published materials instead focus on parental consent and restrictions on medical or social interventions involving minors. | ○ low | |
| Immigration | Winterhawk says Nevada’s laws, schools, hospitals, and public services should prioritize legal residents, citizens, and people here lawfully. He opposes sanctuary policies, supports secure ID for voting and benefits, and calls for coordination with sheriffs and federal agencies to remove criminal offenders through proper channels. | ● high | |
| Firearms & Second Amendment | Winterhawk does not appear to have a standalone firearms policy. His public safety agenda emphasizes zero tolerance for violent and repeat offenders, stronger penalties for organized retail crime and trafficking, school safety, and victim support. | ● high | |
| Foreign Policy | No public position found on foreign policy. His public agenda focuses on Nevada sovereignty, state control over land and resources, and state governance issues rather than international affairs. | ○ low | |
| Civil Rights & Equality | Winterhawk’s platform emphasizes parental rights, education accountability, public safety, election integrity, and government transparency rather than a broad social-justice agenda. His materials also prioritize legal residents in public services and support stronger voting safeguards. | ● high | |
| Education | Winterhawk says Nevada classrooms should teach skills, literacy, critical thinking, civics, and constitutional education rather than political or corporate agendas. He supports parental rights, curriculum transparency, age-appropriate materials, and removing adult political content from schools. | ● high | |
| Tech & AI | Winterhawk’s NIDDA proposal would require apps and websites to disclose data collection, ban sale or transfer of biometric data without explicit consent, create a Nevada data privacy agency, and label ads that use behavioral tracking or AI-generated targeting. | ● high | |
| Election Policy | Winterhawk supports mandatory voter ID, prohibiting non-citizen voting, ending universal mail ballots, requiring paper trails and independent audits, cleaning voter rolls, and county-level tabulation oversight. | ● high | |
| Local Issues | Winterhawk says Nevada land and water should remain under Nevada control. He supports auditing federal water contracts, prioritizing agriculture and conservation, and increasing transparency in development approvals through the Nevada Land Sovereignty and Reclamation Act. | ● high |
Healthcare
◐ mediumWinterhawk does not appear to have a broad public healthcare platform. His published materials emphasize parental consent and parental direction over children’s upbringing, education, healthcare, and values, and say medical, social, or psychological intervention in children should not occur without parental consent.
Economy
● highWinterhawk says he would create an Office of Government Waste & Accountability and a Department of Government Efficiency to audit agencies, publish spending dashboards, and reduce waste. He also says he would freeze non-emergency regulations, review costs, and replace underperforming agency leadership to improve conditions for small businesses and local ownership.
Climate/Energy
● highWinterhawk frames climate and energy policy through Nevada sovereignty over land and water. He supports auditing federal water contracts and advancing the Nevada Land Sovereignty and Reclamation Act to keep land- and resource-related revenues in Nevada and fund drought mitigation and conservation.
Abortion & Reproductive Health
○ lowNo public position found on abortion or broader reproductive-rights policy. His published materials instead focus on parental consent and restrictions on medical or social interventions involving minors.
Immigration
● highWinterhawk says Nevada’s laws, schools, hospitals, and public services should prioritize legal residents, citizens, and people here lawfully. He opposes sanctuary policies, supports secure ID for voting and benefits, and calls for coordination with sheriffs and federal agencies to remove criminal offenders through proper channels.
Firearms & Second Amendment
● highWinterhawk does not appear to have a standalone firearms policy. His public safety agenda emphasizes zero tolerance for violent and repeat offenders, stronger penalties for organized retail crime and trafficking, school safety, and victim support.
Foreign Policy
○ lowNo public position found on foreign policy. His public agenda focuses on Nevada sovereignty, state control over land and resources, and state governance issues rather than international affairs.
Civil Rights & Equality
● highWinterhawk’s platform emphasizes parental rights, education accountability, public safety, election integrity, and government transparency rather than a broad social-justice agenda. His materials also prioritize legal residents in public services and support stronger voting safeguards.
Education
● highWinterhawk says Nevada classrooms should teach skills, literacy, critical thinking, civics, and constitutional education rather than political or corporate agendas. He supports parental rights, curriculum transparency, age-appropriate materials, and removing adult political content from schools.
Tech & AI
● highWinterhawk’s NIDDA proposal would require apps and websites to disclose data collection, ban sale or transfer of biometric data without explicit consent, create a Nevada data privacy agency, and label ads that use behavioral tracking or AI-generated targeting.
Election Policy
● highWinterhawk supports mandatory voter ID, prohibiting non-citizen voting, ending universal mail ballots, requiring paper trails and independent audits, cleaning voter rolls, and county-level tabulation oversight.
Local Issues
● highWinterhawk says Nevada land and water should remain under Nevada control. He supports auditing federal water contracts, prioritizing agriculture and conservation, and increasing transparency in development approvals through the Nevada Land Sovereignty and Reclamation Act.
Top Donors
Winterhawk says his campaign operates without PAC money, corporate donors, or financial gatekeepers, and his campaign materials emphasize direct public support over traditional fundraising. Public finance portals are available, but the campaign site does not provide a detailed donor breakdown.
Voting Record
Matthew Winterhawk has no public legislative voting record because he is not a current or former legislator. Available evidence of his governing approach comes from his campaign platform, which emphasizes transparency, accountability, public safety, and education reform.
Data Analysis Information
Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated 4/7/2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.