What would it take for you to get involved?
For me, it was Ron Paul's 2008 presidential campaign. It made me join the Republican Party in 2007, and I became a precinct committeeman in Brevard County, Florida. Through the party I met Scott Ellis, then Brevard County Clerk of Court. He became a friend and mentor, and he was my inspiration. That year I also joined the Republican Liberty Caucus, the libertarian wing of the Republican Party. Fighting overreach and corruption has been the work ever since: I founded a caucus chapter, organized the Brevard Tea Parties, entered four contests and lost all four, and built the tools grassroots groups need.
What the work was about
My entire grassroots effort was always around reducing government overreach and corruption.
The criminal complaint I filed.
- 2012Criminal complaint filed
- 2013FDLE arrest
- 2017Jury verdict, later set aside
- 2025Died before a retrial
In July 2012 I filed the criminal complaint that started the state investigation into the Brevard County Clerk of Court's office. FDLE arrested former Clerk Mitch Needelman in 2013. A jury convicted him in 2017; the verdict was set aside over a juror's misconduct, and he died in 2025 before a retrial.
Sources
On the ballot
I wasn't afraid to fight, even against overwhelming odds.
Incumbents rarely lose a primary. In 2020, 3.1% of state legislators seeking re-election were defeated in their party's primary.[1] Incumbents who draw a primary challenger usually win. In 2020, 15.2% of the 1,016 major-party state legislative incumbents who faced one lost.[2]
- 2010
Brevard County Commission, District 4
Republican primary, August 24
Incumbent: Mary Bolin, the sitting Commission chair.
Lost
Nye 6,264 votes (40.88%). Bolin 9,059 (59.12%).
Source: Brevard Supervisor of Elections, 2010 primary results
- 2018
Florida House District 52
Republican primary, August 28
Incumbent: Thad Altman, the sitting state representative, in the Florida Legislature since 2003; Brevard County Commission 1984–1992.
Lost
Nye 10,551 votes (44.2%). Altman 13,339 (55.8%).
Source: Certified results, Ballotpedia (archived); Florida Today, 2020-01-10 (Altman tenure)
- 2018
Chairman, Republican Party of Brevard
Party election, closed committee vote
Incumbent: Rick Lacey, the sitting chairman.
Lost
Lacey 95, Nye 59.
- 2020
Florida House District 52
Republican primary, August 18
Incumbent: Thad Altman, the sitting state representative, in the Florida Legislature since 2003; Brevard County Commission 1984–1992.
Lost
Nye 9,432 votes (42.4%). Altman 12,818 (57.6%).
Run during COVID-19 restrictions, without door-to-door canvassing.
Source: Certified results, Ballotpedia (archived); Florida Today, 2020-01-10 (Altman tenure)
Each result links to its source. No donation asks, no endorsements of current candidates.
Sources
Republican Liberty Caucus
- 2007Got involved with the Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) and became a Republican Party of Brevard precinct committeeman. Met Scott Ellis through the Republican Party.
- 2008Founded the RLC of Central East Florida. Bob White succeeded him as chair of the RLC of Central East Florida, led it for 14 years, and ran for Governor of Florida in 2018. Source: Bob White bio, Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida
- 2009Organized the Brevard Tea Parties; organizers counted as many as 4,000 attendees. RLC of Florida State Treasurer.
- 2011Became RLC of Florida Chair and National Treasurer.
- 2013National Chair from 2013 for about a decade.
- NowTreasurer & Immediate Past Chair.
Party and community roles
- Precinct 421 Committeeman, Republican Party of Brevard, since 2007.
- Built the Republican Party of Brevard website.
- Brevard County Charter Review Commission, 2010 and 2016. Appointed by Commissioner Trudie Infantini.
- Member, Rotary Club of Suntree, since 2009.
- Treasurer through June 2022.
- 2019 Rotarian of the Year, Rotary Club of Suntree.
- Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Foundation.
Less overreach, four ways.
Limit government
Founded an RLC chapter in 2008. National Chair of the RLC from 2013, for about a decade.
Organize citizens
Organized the Brevard Tea Parties in 2009; organizers counted as many as 4,000 attendees.
Run and keep watch
Ran in Republican primaries against sitting incumbents. Appointed to the Brevard County Charter Review Commission in 2010 and 2016. Treasurer roles at the RLC of Florida and the National RLC, and Rotary club treasurer (through 2022).
Build the tools
Built the Republican Party of Brevard website, then CiviForge, tools for citizens who organize.
The tools I wanted, I built.
Grassroots groups need membership, dues, events and scorecards in one place. I founded CiviForge, The Organizing OS for Grassroots Movements, to give them that. Each group runs it under its own name. Read the CiviForge project page.
CiviForge
The Organizing OS for Grassroots Movements. A white-label platform for grassroots organizations.
Questions about this work
Has Matt Nye run for office?
Yes. Three times for public office and once for party chair, and he lost all four. The three were Republican primaries against sitting incumbents in Brevard County, Florida: County Commission District 4 in 2010 (40.88%), and Florida House District 52 in 2018 (44.2%) and 2020 (42.4%). The fourth was the 2018 vote for chairman of the Republican Party of Brevard, an internal party election. In 2020, 15.2% of the 1,016 major-party state legislative incumbents who faced a primary challenger lost, according to Ballotpedia.
What is Matt Nye's role with the Republican Liberty Caucus?
He is Treasurer & Immediate Past Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus. He founded the RLC of Central East Florida in 2008, became RLC of Florida Chair and National Treasurer in 2011, and was National Chair from 2013 for about a decade.
What is the Republican Liberty Caucus?
The Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) is the libertarian wing of the Republican Party. It is a membership organization with state and local chapters.
What was Matt Nye's role in the Brevard County Clerk of Court investigation?
Matt Nye filed the criminal complaint in July 2012 that started the state investigation into the Brevard County Clerk of Court's office.
Does Matt Nye manage campaigns for other candidates?
No. Matt Nye does not manage campaigns for other candidates. His campaign experience comes from his own runs and from his work in caucuses and party committees.
What is CiviForge?
CiviForge is The Organizing OS for Grassroots Movements, software that grassroots organizations run under their own names. Matt Nye is its founder.
Is this connected to his financial services work?
No. He keeps his civic work and his financial services work separate.
Thinking about getting involved?
About my grassroots work or CiviForge, book a call and ask.