[1] Willhite currently works as a Captain for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, making him the first active duty first responder serving in the history of the Florida Legislature.

Matt Willhite was born in Pontiac, Michigan and moved to Palm Beach County, Florida in 1980 at the age of 9.

When incumbent State Representative Mark Pafford was unable to seek re-election in 2016 due to term limits, Willhite ran to succeed him in the 86th District, which included Haverhill, Loxahatchee Groves, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, and parts of Greenacres and West Palm Beach.

[3] In 2017 Matt Willhite helped revive the non-partisan Veteran's caucus in the Florida Legislature and was elected chair.

[4] Willhite was reelected in the November 6, 2018 general election, again defeating Bennett, this time with 59.82% of the vote.