Carla Nelson

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Carla Nelson
Image of Carla Nelson

Republican Party

Minnesota State Senate District 24
Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

1

Predecessor
Prior offices
Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota State Senate District 26
Successor: Jeremy Miller

Compensation

Base salary

$51,750/year

Per diem

$86/day

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Drake University, 1979

Graduate

University of Minnesota, 1997

Personal
Profession
Business owner
Contact

Official website

Official YouTube

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal website

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn 

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Carla Nelson (Republican Party) is a member of the Minnesota State Senate, representing District 24. She assumed office on January 3, 2023. Her current term ends on January 5, 2027.

Nelson (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota State Senate to represent District 24. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Nelson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Nelson was first elected to the chamber in 2010. In the 2013-2014 session, Nelson served as an Assistant Minority Leader.

Nelson served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005.

Biography

Carla Nelson lives in Rochester, Minnesota. Nelson earned a B.S. in education with an emphasis in special education from Drake University in 1979 and a master of education (M.Ed.) in teacher leadership from the University of Minnesota in 1997. Her career experience includes working as an educator for Rochester Public Schools Independent School District #535 and as the vice president of Olmsted Financial Group.[1] Nelson became a member of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce.[2]

Committee assignments

2023-2024

Nelson was assigned to the following committees:

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2021-2022

Nelson was assigned to the following committees:

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2019-2020

Nelson was assigned to the following committees:

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2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2017
• Capital Investment
• E-12 Education Finance, Chair
• Finance
• Health and Human Services
• State Government

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Nelson served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Nelson served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2013
• Capital Investment
• Education
• Health, Human Services and Housing
• Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development
• Taxes

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Nelson served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2022

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Minnesota State Senate District 24

Incumbent Carla Nelson defeated Aleta Borrud in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 24 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Carla Nelson
Carla Nelson (R) Candidate Connection
 
57.4
 
20,991
Image of Aleta Borrud
Aleta Borrud (D) Candidate Connection
 
42.5
 
15,529
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
19

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 36,539
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Aleta Borrud advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 24.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Carla Nelson advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 24.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

To view Nelson's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

2020

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Minnesota State Senate District 26

Incumbent Carla Nelson defeated Aleta Borrud in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 26 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Carla Nelson
Carla Nelson (R)
 
50.9
 
24,740
Image of Aleta Borrud
Aleta Borrud (D)
 
49.0
 
23,831
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
73

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 48,644
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Aleta Borrud advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 26.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Carla Nelson advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 26.

Campaign finance

2018

See also: Minnesota's 1st Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 1

Jim Hagedorn defeated Dan Feehan in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 1 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jim Hagedorn
Jim Hagedorn (R)
 
50.1
 
146,200
Image of Dan Feehan
Dan Feehan (D)
 
49.7
 
144,885
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
576

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 291,661
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 1

Dan Feehan defeated Colin Minehart in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 1 on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dan Feehan
Dan Feehan
 
83.1
 
39,252
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Colin Minehart
 
16.9
 
7,979

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 47,231
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 1

Jim Hagedorn defeated Carla Nelson, Steve Williams, and Andrew Candler in the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 1 on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jim Hagedorn
Jim Hagedorn
 
60.1
 
25,431
Image of Carla Nelson
Carla Nelson
 
32.2
 
13,631
Image of Steve Williams
Steve Williams
 
5.1
 
2,144
Image of Andrew Candler
Andrew Candler
 
2.6
 
1,107

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 42,313
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Minnesota State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2016.

Incumbent Carla Nelson defeated Rich Wright in the Minnesota State Senate District 26 general election.[3][4]

Minnesota State Senate, District 26 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Carla Nelson Incumbent 56.01% 23,325
     Democratic Rich Wright 43.99% 18,317
Total Votes 41,642
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State


Rich Wright ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 26 Democratic primary.[5][6]

Minnesota State Senate, District 26 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Rich Wright  (unopposed)


Incumbent Carla Nelson ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 26 Republican primary.[5][6]

Minnesota State Senate, District 26 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Carla Nelson Incumbent (unopposed)

2012

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012

Nelson won election in District 26 in 2012. She was unopposed in the August 14 Republican primary and defeated Kenneth Moen (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[7][8]

Minnesota State Senate, District 26, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngCarla Nelson Incumbent 55.7% 22,263
     Democratic Kenneth Moen 44.3% 17,692
Total Votes 39,955

2010

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2010

Nelson won election to the District 30 seat in 2010. She had no primary opposition. She defeated incumbent Ann Lynch (DFL) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[9]

Minnesota State Senate, District 30 (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Carla Nelson (R) 16,757 54.30%
Ann Lynch (DFL) 14,056 45.55%
Write-In 47 0.15%

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Carla Nelson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Nelson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I am a wife, mom, new grandmother, former teacher, business owner, and State Senator. I am known as a hard working Senator who reaches across the aisle to get things done rather than trying to score political points. I am laser focused on empowering Minnesotans & driving economic growth through: lower taxation; smarter regulation; a well educated workforce; safe & thriving communities; world class healthcare; responsible energy policies; and protecting our natural resources. The 2023 legislative session will be fast and furious with both a new two year budget and bonding bill on the agenda. It will require seasoned legislators who can work across the aisle.

  • Inflation Relief Package: Inflation is eating away at Minnesotan’s ability to feed their family, heat their homes and fill up their gas tanks. As Senate Tax Chair I forged agreement with the House Tax chair on historic income tax cuts; elimination of taxes on social security benefits; property tax relief; and tax credits to help families with paid family leave, childcare and dependent care. This agreed upon tax package stalled when House leadership refused to take it up. I remain focused on letting Minnesotans keep more of their hard earned money and stretch their paychecks further. This will also help make our state more attractive for young families, retirees and a place to start, retain and grow businesses.
  • Safe Streets,Schools and Communities: I will champion efforts that support our men and women in uniform. I supported new programs to increase funding for police recruitment and retention along with efforts to hold criminals accountable. I supported efforts to keep repeat violent offenders in prison and ensure those who commit serious crimes are not released early. With the spike in violent crime, we must be aggressive on both fronts and I look forward to continuing my work to keep our communities safe. I am the only candidate in this race endorsed by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association.
  • Excellence in Education: Students, staff and families suffered greatly during Covid. I will continue to prioritize excellence in education with a focus on proven reading and math strategies, increased parent involvement and school linked mental health. To meet our workforce challenges, I will continue my focus on dual enrollment like PSEO, and pathways like Ptech. Last year, I fought for and passed School Linked Mental Health grants. During this year's supplemental budget negotiations, I was disappointed that the House rejected over $925 million in state aid for reducing school Special Education Cross Subsidy costs, nearly $60 million to help students with reading loss, and $15 million for our most serious school mental health challenges.

► Workforce shortages: Strong families & great education build strong workforces. I’ve passed: Cradle to Career, early literacy, Bridges to Healthcare, Dual Training Pipeline & P-Tech, a partnership with ISD535, RCTC, Mayo & IBM. I will continue to support paid family leave, childcare tax credits and attracting more nurses to MN, and funding increases for long-term care & group home staff. ►Agriculture: “Carla has been a strong supporter of our most important issues, including workforce development, sustainability, research & investment,” said Ray Johnson, Chair of the Farm Bureau PAC. “Our members are excited to endorse Carla’s campaign & have her going to bat for farmers across Minnesota.” ►Environment: I voted for a TCE Ban, expanding lead & radon testing & $20M for toxic landfill cleanup. I championed the Clean Energy First Act to help our state develop an affordable, reliable, clean, diverse & flexible energy portfolio & passed $2B to protect drinking water, restore wetlands & habitats, expand parks, like Chester Woods Trail & fight invasive species. The Coalition of Greater MN Cities named me Environment Legislator of Distinction. ►Healthcare: Passed reinsurance to help individuals, small businesses & farmers. Reined in prescription drug costs & developed a life-saving affordable insulin program. Authored legislation to import lower-cost Canadian drugs, protect patients who use mail-order pharmacies & block insurers from forcing patients to change medications.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.



2020

Carla Nelson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2016

Nelson's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[10]

Healthcare

  • Excerpt: "She will continue working to reform or replace MNSure to protect patient choice and hold down premium hikes."

Education

  • Excerpt: "Carla was chief author of critical funding for the Rochester Reading Center, and she championed reforms to concurrent enrollment practices to make college more affordable, lower college debt and empower students to graduate earlier while preparing them for tomorrows jobs."

Military veterans and seniors

  • Excerpt: "Carla championed legislation to end the taxation of military pensions; she will continue the fight to end double taxation of social security benefits to help Minnesota’s seniors."

Transportation

  • Excerpt: "Carla boldly supported the largest transportation funding package in our state’s history, which made much needed improvements to roads and bridges in Greater Minnesota."

Energy and environment

  • Excerpt: "Carla will work to keep energy dependable and affordable while protecting our planet."

2012

Nelson's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[11]

Jobs and the Economy

  • Excerpt: "As a small business owner, Carla knows we must improve Minnesota’s private sector job climate through lower taxation and smarter regulation. Minnesota is one of the least job friendly states in the nation. We must change this to keep and expand Minnesota jobs!"

Budget

  • Excerpt: "Carla will solve the massive looming budget deficit using a balanced approach. Increase revenues through increased economic activity. Hold a lid on and reduce job-killing tax burdens in an already highly taxed state. Reduce the size of government focus on priorities and increase results."

Education

  • Excerpt: "Lawmakers must correct our school funding formulas to remove large funding disparities between school districts. Student achievement must be the focus of education reform and funding."

Healthcare

  • Excerpt: "Carla is an advocate for patient-centered health care. She will fight to preserve patient choice and will work to reform the payment system to reward outcomes. Carla authored legislation that formed the cutting edge Minnesota Partnership between Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota."

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Carla Nelson campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2022Minnesota State Senate District 24Won general$97,199 $123,372
2020Minnesota State Senate District 26Won general$149,881 N/A**
2018U.S. House Minnesota District 1Lost primary$537,661 $537,239
2016Minnesota State Senate, District 26Won $118,579 N/A**
2012Minnesota Senate, District 26Won $79,419 N/A**
2010Minnesota Senate, District 30Won $70,504 N/A**
2006Minnesota House, District 30ALost $42,708 N/A**
2004Minnesota House, District 30ALost $58,766 N/A**
2002Minnesota House, District 30AWon $34,160 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Minnesota

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of Minnesota scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012


2011

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Nelson and her husband, Terry, have three children.

See also

2022 Elections

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Candidate

Minnesota State Senate District 24

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    Minnesota State Senate District 24

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ LinkedIn, "Carla (Carla Huse) Nelson," accessed March 30, 2023
    2. ↑ Carla Nelson 2022 campaign website, "Meet Carla," accessed March 30, 2023
    3. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
    4. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
    7. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "State of Minnesota Canvassing Report," accessed May 25, 2014
    8. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Canvassing Report - State Primary - Tuesday, August 14, 2012," accessed April 23, 2014
    9. ↑ Secretary of State Official general election results
    10. ↑ Carla Nelson, "Issues," accessed October 6, 2016
    11. ↑ "carlanelson," Official Campaign Website

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    John Jasinski (R)     		Minnesota State Senate District 24
    2023-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -     		Minnesota State Senate District 26
    2011-2023    		 Succeeded by
    Jeremy Miller (R)
    Preceded by
    -     		Minnesota House of Representatives
    2003-2005    		 Succeeded by
    -


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