# Nels Pierson
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{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Nels Pierson
|state_house = Minnesota
|district = 26B
|term_start = January 6, 2015
|term_end = January 6, 2023
|predecessor = [Mike Benson](/source/Mike_Benson_(politician))
|successor = ''redrawn district''
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|12|29}}
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))
|spouse = Nicole
|children = 5
|education = [Gustavus Adolphus College](/source/Gustavus_Adolphus_College) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))
[Hamline University](/source/Hamline_University) ([JD](/source/Juris_Doctor))
}}
'''Nels Pierson''' (born December 29, 1972) is an American politician who served as a member of the [Minnesota House of Representatives](/source/Minnesota_House_of_Representatives) from 2015 to 2023. A member of the [Republican Party of Minnesota](/source/Republican_Party_of_Minnesota), he represented the 26B district in southeastern Minnesota. The district includes a large part of the southern half of [Rochester](/source/Rochester%2C_Minnesota) and greater [Olmsted County](/source/Olmsted_County%2C_Minnesota) to the south and east of the city. He was a candidate in the [2022 Minnesota's 1st congressional district special election](/source/2022_Minnesota's_1st_congressional_district_special_election).
==Early life and education==
Pierson was raised in [Butterfield, Minnesota](/source/Butterfield%2C_Minnesota).[{{cite web | url=http://www.nels.com/ | title=Nels Pierson for State House | publisher=Nels for House | access-date=June 25, 2015}}] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from [Gustavus Adolphus College](/source/Gustavus_Adolphus_College) and a [Juris Doctor](/source/Juris_Doctor) from the [Hamline University School of Law](/source/Hamline_University_School_of_Law).[{{cite web | url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.aspx?ID=15443 | title=Pierson, Nels | publisher=Minnesota Legislative Reference Library | work=Legislators Past & Present | access-date=November 19, 2018}}]
==Career==
Pierson was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2014. He was a candidate in the [2022 Minnesota's 1st congressional district special election](/source/2022_Minnesota's_1st_congressional_district_special_election), losing to [Brad Finstad](/source/Brad_Finstad) in the May 24 primary.
==Political Positions==
In December 2021, Pierson signed a letter along with 37 other Minnesota House Republicans in opposition of the [Mayo Clinic](/source/Mayo_Clinic) for its vaccine mandate policy for employees, calling for a halt in state funding for health care facilities that fire employees "due to unrealistic vaccine mandate policies".[[https://www.house.mn.gov/goppdf/KjjzzR9JvE2GyqQV2Nc_eA.pdf December 8th, 2021 Letter to Mayo Clinic] signed by 38 Minnesota House Republican Representatives.][{{Cite web |last=Bierschbach |first=Briana |date=December 16, 2021 |title=Minnesota House Republicans criticize Mayo Clinic for employee vaccine mandate |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-house-republicans-criticize-mayo-clinic-for-employee-vaccine-mandate/600127703/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Star Tribune}}][{{Cite web |last=Star Tribune Editorial Board |first= |date=December 16, 2021 |title=EDITORIAL {{!}} Ethical decision is protecting patients |url=https://www.startribune.com/ethical-decision-is-protecting-patients/600127854/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Star Tribune}}][{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=Ricardo |last2= |first2= |last3= |date=2021-12-16 |title=House GOP leans on Mayo Clinic to call off its vaccine mandate |url=https://minnesotareformer.com/2021/12/16/house-gop-leans-on-mayo-clinic-to-call-off-its-vaccine-mandate/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Minnesota Reformer |language=en-US}}]
==Personal life==
Pierson and his wife, Nicole, have five children.