In the Republican primary, Grant ran against Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair, Irene Guy, and Tom Aderhold.

Grant won with a 37% plurality and moved onto the general election, where he faced the Democratic nominee, former congressional candidate Michael Steinberg.

While in the legislature, Grant encountered legislation that aimed to prevent abuses at unlicensed religious children's homes, following an investigation that the Tampa Bay Times did that revealed that "virtually anyone can claim a list of religious ideals, take in children and subject them to punishment and isolation that verge on torture--so long as they quote chapter and verse to justify it.

However, an appeals court ruled that Matthews was improperly removed from the ballot, so the Florida House of Representatives voted to invalidate the results and declare the seat vacant.

[7] The Tampa Tribune criticized the complex legal situation that caused the special election to occur, and called Matthews' candidacy "a sham and affront to our electoral process," and ultimately endorsed Grant, praising him for representing the district well.

[10] While serving as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, Grant became the subject of numerous articles in the Tampa Bay Times and other media pertaining to his ownership interest in Caresync, a privately held firm established in Hardee County, Florida in conjunction with the Hardee County Industrial Development agency.

At the time that Caresync ceased operations Grant was already separated from the company, stating in the media that he was the victim of a "hostile takeover".