Minnesota Senator Carla Nelson has confirmed that she will not run for re-election, ending a long political career that has lasted nearly 30 years in public service.
Nelson has represented parts of Olmsted and Dodge counties since she first entered the Minnesota Senate in 2010. Before that, she served in the Minnesota House starting in 2003. Over the years, she was re-elected four times and has now spent more than 6,300 days working in the state legislature.
With her announcement, Nelson said she will complete her current term, which ends on January 5, 2027. She will not be a candidate in the November 3, 2026 general election, meaning voters will choose a new senator for District 24 in that election. Reflecting on her time in office, Nelson shared how meaningful her journey has been.
"Serving the people of Rochester and southeastern Minnesota has been a great privilege and responsibility," Sen. Nelson said. "Every constituent call, every heartbreaking story, every town hall, every conversation at a local event reminded me of my purpose and who I was there to serve. For many years, the people of this district have given me their trust, and that is a gift I will carry with me. I look forward to new ways to serve."
Who is Sen. Carla Nelson?
Carla J. Nelson was born on May 22 in 1957. She is an American politician from Minnesota and a member of the Republican Party. She serves in the Minnesota Senate representing District 24, which includes parts of Olmsted County and Dodge County, including areas of Rochester.
She holds a B.S. in special education from Drake University and an M.Ed. in teacher leadership from the University of Minnesota, along with reading specialist certification. Before politics, she worked as an elementary and middle school teacher and is also the owner of the Olmsted Group, an insurance and investment firm in Rochester. Nelson previously ran in the Republican primary for Minnesota's 1st congressional district in 2018 but was not successful.
Sen. Carla Nelson Work As Minnesota Senator
Carla Nelson was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2010 and was re-elected in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2022. Before that, she served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005, where she worked on committees related to education policy, higher education finance, and local government.
In the Senate, her key focus areas included health care, commerce, higher education, and taxes. She also served as an assistant minority leader starting in 2012. Nelson has received several recognitions, including being named a 2021 Legislator of Distinction by the Minnesota League of Cities, an honor given to a small group of state senators for their work.
Sen. Carla Nelson Education and Community Work
Before entering politics, Nelson worked as a teacher in elementary and middle schools in Rochester and Iowa. She also played a key role in education policy, authoring a bipartisan K-12 education budget in 2017 that reportedly increased funding for Minnesota public schools by $1.3 billion. She has lived in Rochester since 1983 and has also been active in local community groups such as the Rochester Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Mayowood.
Who Will Succeed Sen. Carla Nelson?
At this stage, no replacement has been announced for Nelson's seat. Since she will finish her term, the District 24 Senate seat covering areas in Olmsted and Dodge counties will be decided by voters in the November 2026 elections.
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