Eric Nelson (West Virginia politician)

This article is about the West Virginia state legislator. For others named Eric Nelson, see Eric Nelson.

Fredrik Eric Nelson Jr.^[2] (born December 4, 1960, in Charleston, West Virginia) is an American politician and a former Republican member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, having represented District 35 from January 12, 2013, until December 1, 2020. Nelson served consecutively from January 2011 until January 2013 in the District 30 seat. After his tenure in the West Virginia House of Delegates, he went on to run for District 17 in the West Virginia Senate, which he subsequently won in November 3, 2020 general election. He served as a State Senator from 2020 to 2025, when he was appointed as revenue secretary in the administration of Governor Patrick Morrisey.^[3][4]

Eric Nelson
Member of the West Virginia Senate from the 17th district
In office December 1, 2020 – January 13, 2025
Preceded by	Corey Palumbo
Succeeded by	Anne Charnock
Member of West Virginia House of Delegates
In office January 12, 2013 – December 1, 2020
Succeeded by	Larry Pack
Constituency	35th district[1]
In office January 2011 – January 2013
Succeeded by	Linda Sumner
Constituency	30th district
Personal details
Born	(1960-12-04) December 4, 1960 (age 64) Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Children	3[2]
Residence(s)	Charleston, West Virginia
Alma mater	Washington and Lee University
Website	nelsonforhouse.com

Education

Nelson earned his BS degrees in accounting and business administration from Washington and Lee University.

Elections

• 2012 Redistricted to District 35, Nelson ran in the ten-way May 8, 2012, Republican Primary and placed first with 2,606 votes (18.5%),^[5] and placed third in the eight-way four-position November 6, 2012, general election with 13,397 votes (14.2%), behind incumbent Democratic Representative Doug Skaff, fellow Republican Suzette Raines and ahead of fellow Republican selectee John McCuskey and non-selectees incumbent Democratic Representatives Bobbie Hatfield and Bonnie Brown, Democratic nominee Chris Morris, and fellow Republican nominee Fred Joseph.^[6]
• 2010 Originally in District 30, O'Neal ran in the eight-way May 11, 2010, Republican Primary and placed first with 2,963 votes (16.0%),^[7] and placed second in the fourteen-way seven-position November 2, 2010, general election with 17,603 votes (8.0%) behind incumbent Democratic Representative Doug Skaff and ahead of incumbents Daniel Wells (D), Bobbie Hatfield (D), Bonnie Brown (D), Mark Hunt (D), and Nancy Guthrie (D).^[8]