Carla Nelson

Carla Nelson has served in the Minnesota State Senate since 2010. She was a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Minnesota's 1st Congressional District, but lost in the primary.

Nelson was born in Webster City, Iowa, on May 22, 1957. She earned a Bachelor of Science in special education from Drake University and a Master in Education in teacher leadership from the University of Minneapolis. She started her career as a teacher in 1992 for the Rochester Public Schools and left in 2000. In 2005 she became vice president of Olmstead Financial Group, her current position.

Nelson began her political career in 2002 when she was elected to the Minnesota State House of Representatives. She ran unsuccessfully for re-election in 2006, but was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 2010.