Matthew Louis Gaetz II[2] (/ˈɡeɪts/ GAYTS; born May 7, 1982) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 1st congressional district since 2017. A member of the Republican Party, his district covers a large portion of the western Florida Panhandle, including Pensacola, Destin, Navarre and his hometown, Fort Walton Beach.