Matthew James "Matt" Salmon (born January 21, 1958) is the Republican representative for Arizona's 5th congressional district. The district is based in Mesa and includes most of the eastern suburbs of Phoenix. He previously represented the district, then numbered as the 1st District, from 1995 to 2001. In 2002, he lost to Janet Napolitano in a highly competitive governor's race. He regained his old congressional seat in the 2012 election.