Carla Nelson

Carla J. Nelson (born May 22, 1957) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, she represents District 26, which includes portions of Olmsted County in the southeastern part of the state.

Early life, education, and career

Nelson graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, receiving her B.S. in special education. She went on to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, earning her M.Ed. in teacher leadership, and her reading specialist certification.

She is the owner of the Olmsted Group, an insurance and investment firm in Rochester. She was previously an elementary and middle school teacher in Rochester.

Minnesota Legislature

Nelson was first elected to the Senate in 2010 and was re-elected in 2012. She previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005, and was a member of the House's Education Policy, Higher Education Finance, and Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs committees. Her special legislative concerns include health care, commerce, higher education, and taxes. Nelson was named an assistant minority leader in November 2012.