Matt Duffield – Matt Duffield State Rep District 53

Pictured above: After being turned on to wrestling in his teen years, Duffield appeared in matches throughout the U.S. and abroad. (Photos provided)

It is a well-trod political trope to paint oneself as an anti-establishment, special-interests-averse candidate of the people, but few politicians put that ethos into action quite like state Rep. Matt Duffield of Russellville. Duffield, who completed his first term in the Arkansas legislature in 2023, checks the expected boxes, as well as a few that put him squarely in a class by himself.

“My main reason [for serving in the legislature] is I wanted to elevate the standard of living for working-class people,” he said. “I believe as the Republican party, we need to stop talking the talk and start walking the walk when it comes to helping the working class.

“If we’re serious about helping the people climb the economic ladder, own a home, send their kids to college or trade school, then we need to do some things to give them a hand up.”

Philosophically, the conservative Duffield is about as prototypical of an Arkansas state representative as they come these days. A God-fearing populist, he is hawkish on reducing the size of government and carries a soft spot for veterans and the little guy. In addition, Duffield is a small-business owner of the family firm Duffield Gravel Co. in Russellville and his own Big River Materials, which feeds his railing against the kind of excessive taxes and regulation that impedes business growth.

He points to such elements as the things he holds in common with the electorate in his home district, the kind of people he knows best and is most dedicated to serving.

“This state is comprised of so many great people who are working-class good ol’ boys and gals, and I think we need to listen to those people because that is the heartbeat of the state. I don’t think that’s happened nearly enough,” he said. “I just feel like those people need to be represented and don’t deserve to be ignored.

“I’ll reiterate: Our party, from my view, is supposed to represent the working class, and a majority of my supporters, that’s who they are, and that’s what I am. I am much more comfortable going to wrestling matches and going to ’80s rock concerts than I am at a black-tie affair or at the country club, playing golf.”

Duffield’s political views may seem interchangeable with many in the legislature — dominated as it has been in recent years by conservatives, many from similar small-town environments statewide — but his backstory is uniquely his own. Prior to beginning his political career, Duffield spent years in the professional wrestling arena after getting turned on to it by his brothers and late father, Ronnie.

“When I was growing up, I hated wrestling,” he said. “When I was 12, we took a trip to Disney World, and there was a giant man where we were boarding the plane, and my brothers freaked out, saying, ‘That’s Captain Dick Murdock.’ Murdock was this legendary wrestler back through the ’70s and ’80s, so my dad struck up a conversation with him.

“My dad wasn’t a small man. He was 6-2, and here’s this guy towering over him and yet sounding like an astute businessman, a very intelligent guy from a business family. I thought to myself, ‘This wrestling thing has been around a long time. There’s got to be something more to it, or it wouldn’t be on television. I think I may be the one missing something here.’

Upon arriving home, Duffield watched a televised wrestling match, and a light clicked in his head. He enrolled in wrestling school in the city of Paris in Logan County as a teen.

“I quit a total of three times,” he said. “I found out when you hit the mat, it actually does hurt.”

By 17, Duffield promoted his first wrestling event, bringing a fight card to Briggsville, in part as a fundraiser for the Fish Valley FFA.

“We drew 250 people and raised some money and had a good time,” he said. “There were politicians there buying pies at an auction for $100. Little did I know a few years later, I’d be doing the same things — selling pies and buying pies.”

In addition to promoting the event, Duffield also got in on the action, initially playing the role of the manager the crowd loved to hate. Judging from what got thrown at him, he was great at it.

“I was the heel, the bad guy. I put the fans in a frenzy,” he said. “I remember I felt something hit my back, and a fan had thrown a 20-ounce bottle of Coke and hit me with it.”

In the ring, Duffield was Matt Riviera, a love-him-or-hate-him character who switched easily from the preening heel to the life-of-the-party babyface, or good guy, as the event required. By the time he hung it up, Duffield had appeared in big market bouts in California, Las Vegas and multiple states and had twice appeared in Tokyo. More importantly, he had learned the art of promotion and how to work a crowd, skills that are as indispensable in the political arena as in the wrestling ring.

“The thing that’s helped me in politics the most is promotion, fundraising and the art of how to fill the building,” he said. “I was fortunate to do fundraisers [while wrestling] for various folks and organizations, and the fundraising aspect has helped me tremendously in politics. I’m currently the No. 5 fundraiser in the state, and I owe a lot of that to pro wrestling. It taught me how to market. Instead of selling tickets, now the name of the game is to get votes.

“I actually loved campaigning, to be honest, and I can say this: I’m not sure that I would have had the confidence to get out of my car, walk up to someone’s front door, and knock on it and ask them for their vote without that background.”

Duffield said he sees and feels akin to a new brand of conservative thought in Arkansas, a younger generation that bristles against being labeled or easily categorized. He himself is a good example of contradictions, a product of the technological age who favors ink-and-paper lists to digital technology and eschews the well-worn heels and babyfaces of the political arena to look deeper at root causes and fair treatment for all. His opposition to sales taxes on groceries and other essential items, as well as his next target, Arkansas’ renter laws, are good examples of his populist brand of conservatism.

“Landlord-tenant issues have been high on my list,” he said. “My view is that system needs some work from all directions. You basically have three parties involved — landlords, tenants and property management — and what I would like to see is each of those parties held to their contractual obligations.

“If a tenant rents a property and they’re promised hot water, cold air and a decent roof over their head and they’re paying their rent, they should have that. If a tenant is not paying their rent and causing destruction to the property, the landlord should have the ability to evict that tenant very quickly.”

True to form, Duffield’s other goals on the horizon are things not usually listed on a legislator’s resume but that fit with his singularly everyman persona.

“I have a lot more in common with the working class; I’d much rather have a big cheeseburger than caviar any day of the week,” he said. “Every year, I set a 12-month gym goal. Right now, I’m at a 445-pound bench, and Lord willing, I’d like to be the state representative that can bench press 500 pounds.”

Read the article here: https://armoneyandpolitics.com/russellville-representative-brings-unique-style-to-statehouse/