Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Nels Pierson
Nels Pierson (Republican Party) was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 26B. He assumed office on January 6, 2015. He left office on January 3, 2023.
Pierson (Republican Party) ran in a special election to the U.S. House to represent Minnesota's 1st Congressional District. He lost in the special Republican primary on May 24, 2022.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Pierson was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Pierson was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture Finance |
| • Agriculture Policy |
| • Capital Investment |
| • Health and Human Services Finance |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Pierson served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture Finance |
| • Education Innovation Policy |
| • Health and Human Services Finance |
| • Health and Human Services Reform |
Sponsored legislation
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's 1st Congressional District special election, 2022
General election
Special general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 1
Brad Finstad defeated Jeff Ettinger, Richard Reisdorf, and Haroun McClellan in the special general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 1 on August 9, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Brad Finstad (R) | 50.7 | 59,788 |
 | Jeff Ettinger (D) | 46.8 | 55,155 | |
 | Richard Reisdorf (Legal Marijuana Now Party)  | 1.3 | 1,536 | |
 | Haroun McClellan (Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota) | 0.7 | 865 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 548 | ||
| Total votes: 117,892 | |||
| = 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
Special Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 1
The following candidates ran in the special Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 1 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jeff Ettinger | 64.4 | 12,130 |
 | Sarah Brakebill-Hacke | 13.2 | 2,492 | |
 | Richard Painter | 9.1 | 1,718 | |
| Candice Deal-Bartell | 6.2 | 1,158 | ||
| James Rainwater | 2.4 | 446 | ||
 | Rick DeVoe | 2.0 | 379 | |
| Warren Anderson | 1.9 | 363 | ||
| George Kalberer | 0.7 | 137 | ||
| Total votes: 18,823 | |||
| = 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
Special Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 1
The following candidates ran in the special Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 1 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Brad Finstad | 38.1 | 13,695 |
 | Jeremy Munson | 36.9 | 13,268 | |
| Jennifer Carnahan | 8.0 | 2,887 | ||
| Matt Benda | 7.3 | 2,629 | ||
 | Nels Pierson | 5.2 | 1,878 | |
| Kevin Kocina | 2.7 | 960 | ||
 | Bob Carney Jr. | 0.5 | 193 | |
 | Roger Ungemach | 0.4 | 151 | |
| J.R. Ewing | 0.4 | 142 | ||
 | Ken Navitsky (Unofficially withdrew) | 0.4 | 127 | |
| Total votes: 35,930 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary election
Special Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 1
Haroun McClellan advanced from the special Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 1 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Haroun McClellan | 100.0 | 194 |
| Total votes: 194 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election
Special Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 1
Richard Reisdorf advanced from the special Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 1 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Richard Reisdorf | 100.0 | 363 |
| Total votes: 363 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2020
See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B
Incumbent Nels Pierson defeated Randy Brock in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Nels Pierson (R) | 50.6 | 13,999 |
| Randy Brock (D) | 49.3 | 13,652 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 16 | ||
| Total votes: 27,667 | |||
| = 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. Randy Brock advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Nels Pierson advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B.
Campaign finance
2018
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B
Incumbent Nels Pierson defeated Tyrel Clark in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Nels Pierson (R) | 53.7 | 11,784 |
| Tyrel Clark (D) | 46.2 | 10,144 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 22 | ||
| Total votes: 21,950 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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 Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B
Tyrel Clark advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Tyrel Clark | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B
Incumbent Nels Pierson advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Nels Pierson |
| ||||
| = 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
Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives 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 Nels Pierson defeated John Wayne Austinson in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B general election.[1][2]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 26B General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Nels Pierson Incumbent |
59.22% | 13,832 | |
| Democratic | John Wayne Austinson | 40.78% | 9,526 | |
| Total Votes | 23,358 | |||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State | ||||
John Wayne Austinson ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B Democratic primary.[3][4]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 26B Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | John Wayne Austinson (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Nels Pierson ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B Republican primary.[3][4]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 26B Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Nels Pierson Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 12, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014. Rich Wright was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Nels Pierson was unopposed in the Republican primary. Pierson defeated Wright in the general election.[5][6][7]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Nels Pierson |
59.8% | 9,251 | |
| Democratic | Rich Wright | 40% | 6,188 | |
| Write-in | Write-in | 0.1% | 19 | |
| Total Votes | 15,458 | |||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Nels Pierson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Nels Pierson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
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.
Scorecards
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 editor@ballotpedia.org.
2022
In 2022, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 31 to May 23.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2021, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 5 to May 17.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2020, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 11 to May 17. Special sessions were convened: June 12 to June 19; July 13 to July 21; August 12; September 11; October 12 to October 15; and November 12.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 8 through May 20.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 20 through May 21.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 3 through May 22. The legislature held a special session from May 23 to May 26.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from March 8 through May 23.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 6 through May 18.
|
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2014 general election results," accessed November 5, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "State Canvassing Board Report," August 19, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2014 State General Election Candidate Filings," accessed July 25, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mike Benson (R) |
Minnesota House of Representatives District 26B 2015-2023 |
Succeeded by Greg Davids (R) |
