Michael Nelson

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. 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. 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. 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.