Matthew D. "Matt" de Ferranti
Democratic · VA · Chair, Arlington County Board
Official website · X (Twitter)
Matt de Ferranti chairs the Arlington County Board, where he has served since 2019, and is a former teacher and lawyer who also sits on the Metro board. His priorities are preserving affordable housing, supporting federal workers, and keeping Metro funded.
Where Matthew D. "Matt" de Ferranti stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (3 records), Housing Affordability (2 records)
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (4 records)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 4 oppose
As board chair, voted for a $1.7 billion county budget and a 2-cent real estate tax rate increase, to $1.053 per $100 of assessed value. The tax increase passed 4-1.
April 22, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: arlingtonva.us
Moved to fund new union contracts for county police and firefighters that run from July 2026 to June 2029. The motion passed 5-0.
December 16, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: meetings.arlingtonva.us
As board chair, voted with a unanimous board for a $150 million county loan to help buy the 1,334-unit Barcroft Apartments and keep its rents affordable.
December 14, 2021Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: arlnow.com
Seconded and voted for a deal to pay Amazon up to 15% of new hotel tax revenue for 15 years to help bring its second headquarters to Arlington. The County Board approved it 5-0.
March 16, 2019Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: arlington.granicus.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 3 support
Moved to fund new union contracts for county police and firefighters that run from July 2026 to June 2029. The motion passed 5-0.
December 16, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: meetings.arlingtonva.us
Voted for a county law that lets the County Manager run a program for residents to turn in unwanted guns. It passed 5-0.
March 16, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: meetings.arlingtonva.us
Moved to create a civilian board and an independent auditor to review police conduct and policies. He voted against a rival version of the board's subpoena powers, which failed 2-3. The final law passed 5-0.
July 21, 2021Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: arlington.granicus.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 2 support
Voted for the "Missing Middle" zoning change, which allows buildings with up to six homes on lots zoned for single-family houses, under a yearly permit cap. It passed 5-0. He also moved to keep the cap for five years instead of three.
March 22, 2023Supports Housing Affordability
Source: arlington.granicus.com
As board chair, voted with a unanimous board for a $150 million county loan to help buy the 1,334-unit Barcroft Apartments and keep its rents affordable.
December 14, 2021Supports Housing Affordability
Source: arlnow.com
Track record — General
General · 13 records
At a public forum, asked state legislators to stay out of Arlington's debate over changing its form of county government until local residents weigh the options.
September 9, 2026
Source: arlnow.com
Endorsed U.S. Rep. Don Beyer for re-election in the 2026 Democratic primary, calling him an invaluable partner to Arlington.
May 27, 2026
Source: arlnow.com
Voted against making ranked-choice voting permanent for County Board general elections; that failed 1-4. He then seconded and voted to use it for the 2026 and 2027 general elections, which passed 5-0.
March 14, 2026
Source: meetings.arlingtonva.us
Was elected chair of the Arlington County Board for 2026 by a 5-0 vote of his colleagues.
January 5, 2026
Source: meetings.arlingtonva.us
Was named an alternate Virginia member of the Metro (WMATA) board of directors and chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission's Metro committee.
June 5, 2025
Source: arlnow.com
At a regional Metro funding meeting, opposed a region-wide sales tax for Metro. He backed letting Virginia, Maryland and D.C. each raise their own share instead.
May 16, 2025
Source: arlnow.com
Endorsed fellow County Board member Takis Karantonis in his 2025 Democratic primary race for re-election.
May 9, 2025
Source: arlnow.com
Seconded and voted for tighter limits on county police contact with federal immigration agents, now allowed mainly in cases of gang members or felony arrests. It passed 4-1.
November 16, 2024
Source: meetings.arlingtonva.us
Seconded and voted for a motion to remove every sitting member of the county's Human Rights Commission. It passed 4-1.
August 27, 2024
Source: meetings.arlingtonva.us
Moved a rewrite of the county's human rights law covering its wording, its scope and the Human Rights Commission. It passed 4-1. He also moved a new commission charter limiting it to discrimination complaints against private parties, which passed 5-0.
August 27, 2024
Source: meetings.arlingtonva.us
Moved the county's Trust Policy, which limits when county staff share residents' information with federal immigration agents. It passed 5-0.
July 19, 2022
Source: arlington.granicus.com
As board chair, voted for a county law that gives county employees the right to form unions and bargain with the county. It passed 5-0.
July 17, 2021
Source: arlington.granicus.com
Was elected chair of the Arlington County Board for 2021 by a unanimous vote of his colleagues. It was his first year as chair.
January 4, 2021
Source: arlnow.com
Past race Matthew D. "Matt" de Ferranti ran in:
- Member County Board · November 3, 2026 · Arlington County, Virginia · incumbent