Mike Nelson (Minnesota politician)

Michael V. Nelson (born June 2, 1954) is an American politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 38A, which includes the cities of Brooklyn Park and Osseo in Hennepin County in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.^[1][2]

Michael Nelson
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 38A district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 7, 2003
Preceded by	redrawn district
Personal details
Born	(1954-06-02) June 2, 1954 (age 69) Minneapolis, Minnesota
Political party	Democratic (DFL)
Spouse	Kathleen
Children	3
Residence	Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
Education	Hennepin Technical College
Occupation	Business agent Carpenter Legislator
Website	Government website Campaign website

Early life, education, and career

Nelson was born in Minneapolis and attended Park Center High School. He attended Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park for carpentry in 1974. He served for 16 years as a member of the Minneapolis Housing Authority.^[1]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Nelson was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2002 and has been reelected every two years since. He first ran in a special election after the death of five-term DFL incumbent Darlene Luther, losing to Republican John Jordan. Nelson challenged Jordan again in 2002 and won.^[1]

Nelson has chaired the Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Committee since 2023. He also sits on the Property Tax Division and the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. Nelson chaired the State Government Finance and Elections Committee from 2021 to 2022 and the State Government Finance Division from 2019 to 2020. He chaired the Government Operations Committee from 2013 to 2014 and the Local Government Division from 2009 to 2010, and was an assistant majority leader for the House DFL caucus from 2007 to 2008.^[1]

Political positions

State government

Nelson has supported Attorney General Keith Ellison's requests to increase funding to hire additional criminal prosecutors, but said in 2021 that Senate Republicans opposed the measure.^[3] After protesters took down a statue of Christopher Columbus on the state Capitol grounds, Nelson said he would not hold hearings on legislation to restore the statue.^[4] During a 2015 debate over increasing salaries for state commissioners, Nelson said, "We could put a bunch of slugs in there and pay them nothing and then we'd scream when the government is not running right".^[4] He opposed a bill to create a legislative budget office in 2015.^[5][6]

Labor and unionization

Nelson, who worked as a union representative, has supported workers and their right to join a union, and said, "There's been a general war on anyone who is working class and has a union by trying to take union rights away".^[7][8] He authored legislation in 2013 to authorize childcare providers to collectively bargain as part of a union, which passed the House as part of a larger labor bill.^{[9][10][11][12]} He supported legislation approving union contracts that included pay increases for state workers.^[13] Nelson served as part of a jobs task force to make recommendations on economic development, capital investment, and tax policies.^[14][15]

Elections

Nelson has supported legislation to increase funding for election cybersecurity updates and authorize federal funds from the Help America Vote Act to improve election security.^[16][17][18] He expressed concern over a proposal to move Minnesota's primary from August to June, and cosponsored a bill to ban ranked-choice voting in the state.^[19][20]

Other political positions

Nelson voted in favor of a bill to build a new Minnesota Vikings stadium with a mix of private and state funds.^[21][22][23] He supported bills to pay off the stadium's debt ahead of schedule.^[24] In 2017, he was the only "no" vote on a hearing for a bill to increase legislative control over the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which oversees the U.S. Bank Stadium oversight panel.^[25][26]

Electoral history

2002 Minnesota State House - District 47A Special Election^[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Jordan	1,468	55.69
	Democratic (DFL)	Mike Nelson	1,058	40.14
	Independent	Pat O'Brien	107	4.06
	Write-in		3	0.11
Total votes			2,636	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic (DFL)

2002 Minnesota State House - District 46A^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Mike Nelson	6,452	55.47
	Republican	John Jordan (incumbent)	5,163	44.39
	Write-in		17	0.15
Total votes			11,632	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican

2004 Minnesota State House - District 46A^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Mike Nelson (incumbent)	8,965	62.22
	Republican	Linda J. Etim	5,408	37.53
	Write-in		35	0.24
Total votes			14,408	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2006 Minnesota State House - District 46A^[30]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Mike Nelson (incumbent)	6,007	63.61
	Republican	Linda J. Etim	3,422	36.42
	Write-in		14	0.15
Total votes			9,443	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2008 Minnesota State House - District 46A^[31]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Michael V. Nelson (incumbent)	9,275	65.94
	Republican	Gene Lotts	4,730	33.63
	Write-in		61	0.43
Total votes			14,066	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2010 Minnesota State House - District 46A^[32]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Michael Nelson (incumbent)	5,043	58.66
	Republican	Chuck Sutphen	3,546	41.25
	Write-in		8	0.09
Total votes			8,597	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2012 Minnesota State House - District 40A^[33]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Michael Nelson (incumbent)	11,972	97.18
	Write-in		347	2.82
Total votes			12,319	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2014 Minnesota State House - District 40A^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Michael Nelson (incumbent)	5,711	64.85
	Republican	Chuck Sutphen	3,077	34.94
	Write-in		18	0.20
Total votes			8,806	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2016 Minnesota State House - District 40A^[35]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Michael Nelson (incumbent)	11,548	96.39
	Write-in		433	3.61
Total votes			11,981	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2018 Minnesota State House - District 40A^[36]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Michael V. Nelson (incumbent)	9,387	73.12
	Republican	David True	3,411	26.57
	Write-in		40	0.31
Total votes			12,838	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2020 Minnesota State House - District 40A^[37]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Michael V. Nelson (incumbent)	11,775	72.90
	Republican	David True	4,348	26.92
	Write-in		30	0.19
Total votes			16,153	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

2022 Minnesota State House - District 38A^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Michael "Mike" Nelson (incumbent)	8,252	95.65
	Write-in		375	4.35
Total votes			8,627	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

Nelson lives in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota with his spouse, Kathleen, and has three children.^[1] He is Lutheran.^[1]

References

1. "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Nelson, Michael V". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
2. "Rep. Michael Nelson (38A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
3. Montemayor, Stephen (June 25, 2021). "Ellison's latest bid to rebuild his office's criminal division stalled in Legislature". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
4. Bakst, Brian (February 12, 2015). "Minnesota Senate vote to suspend pay raises for Dayton commissioners triggers Democratic rift". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
5. Lopez, Ricardo (March 18, 2015). "Legislative budget office measure clears first committee". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
6. Pugmire, Tim (March 18, 2015). "Legislative budget office bill advances". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
7. Bakst, Brian (April 28, 2013). "Labor, reeling elsewhere, poised for gains in Minn". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
8. Pugmire, Tim (May 21, 2013). "Budget in hand, Legislature adjourns". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
9. Pugmire, Tim (February 22, 2013). "Child care union bill coming". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
10. Pugmire, Tim (March 29, 2013). "Unionization bill faces rocky road at Capitol". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
11. Pugmire, Tim (May 20, 2013). "House passes union bill with clock ticking on session". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
12. Nord, James (2013-05-20). "House approves disputed unionization bill with no votes to spare". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
13. Callaghan, Peter (2020-05-01). "Fight over state employees' pay interrupts the Legislature's COVID-19 comity". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
14. Pugmire, Tim (August 20, 2009). "DFL House leader appoints job creation task force". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
15. Kimball, Joe (2009-08-21). "Jobs Task Force created with 36 state House members". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
16. Montemayor, Stephen (May 22, 2019). "Budget deal frees up federal election security money for Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
17. Pugmire, Tim (February 22, 2019). "Dems say GOP are delaying election security money". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
18. Callaghan, Peter (2019-02-22). "Why a fight at the Minnesota Capitol over election security money doesn't bode well for a productive legislative session". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
19. Bierschbach, Briana (2015-03-13). "Would having an earlier primary improve turnout, or just further politicize legislative sessions?". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
20. Bierschbach, Briana (2018-03-14). "A bipartisan group in the Legislature wants to ban ranked-choice voting in Minnesota". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
21. Pugmire, Tim (April 17, 2012). "Who was the stadium flipper?". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
22. Grow, Doug (2012-04-17). "'Death' of one Vikings stadium plan gives new life to alternate proposals". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
23. MinnPost Staff (2012-05-10). "Vikings stadium — what's in final deal and how House members voted". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
24. Bakst, Brian (March 21, 2022). "Latest Vikings stadium debate chapter: How to save on debt". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
25. Olson, Rochelle (February 14, 2017). "House committee endorses bill to reshape U.S. Bank Stadium oversight panel". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
26. Nelson, Tim (February 14, 2017). "Bill to eliminate Vikings stadium board moves forward". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
27. "2002 Results for State Representative District 47A Special Election". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
28. "2002 Results for State Representative District 46A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
29. "2004 Results for State Representative District 46A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
30. "2006 Results for State Representative District 46A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
31. "2008 Results for State Representative District 46A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
32. "2010 Results for State Representative District 46A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
33. "2012 Results for State Representative District 40A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
34. "2014 Results for State Representative District 40A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
35. "2016 Results for State Representative District 40A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
36. "2018 Results for State Representative District 40A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
37. "2020 Results for State Representative District 40A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
38. "2022 Results for State Representative District 38A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.

External links

• Mike Nelson at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
• Official House of Representatives website
• Official campaign website