Nathan Coulter (born March 9, 1986) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor-Party (DFL), Coulter represents District 51B in the southwestern Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the city of Bloomington and parts of Hennepin County.[1][2]
Nathan Coulter | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 51B district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | redistricted |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 9, 1986 Bloomington, Minnesota |
| Political party | Democratic (DFL) |
| Spouse | Charity |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Bloomington, Minnesota |
| Education | St. Olaf College (BA) Humphrey School of Public Affairs (MPA) |
| Occupation | Legislator |
| Website | Government website Campaign website |
Early life, education, and career
editCoulter grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota, and received his bachelor's degree in political science and music from St. Olaf College. He earned a Master of Public Administration in health, housing, education policy and leadership from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.[1]
Coulter worked at the Minnesota Senate for ten years as a legislative assistant and DFL researcher. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Perpich Center for Arts Education and twice as the Bloomington Housing and Redevelopment Authority Commissioner-from 2015 to 2019 and from 2022 to 2023.[1]
Coulter served on the Bloomington City Council from 2018 until he was elected to the legislature.[1][3][4] While on the council in 2022, Coulter said he supported a city mask mandate to slow the spread of COVID-19, but that a statewide mandate would be more effective.[5]
Minnesota House of Representatives
editCoulter was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. He first ran for an open seat created by the 2022 legislative redistricting process.[1]
Coulter serves on the Children and Families Finance and Policy, Elections Finance and Policy, Higher Education Finance and Policy, and Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committees and the Property Tax Division of the Taxes Committee.[1]
Political positions
editCoulter authored a law that changed the state's renters refund program to an income tax credit, so that more renters will automatically receive a benefit they qualify for.[6] He supported legislation that would restore the right to vote to Minnesotans convicted of a felony offense while they are serving parole, citing that the policy had been adopted already by Republican-controlled states like Utah.[7]
Coulter authored legislation in 2023 that would award a $5 million grant for planning for a possible World's Fair Expo in Bloomington in 2027, saying the expo would be an economic benefit to the state.[8] On June 21, 2023, it was announced that the bid went to Serbia, leaving the money unspent.[9]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Nathan Coulter | 10,041 | 61.57 | |
| Republican | Chad Anderson | 6,249 | 38.32 | |
| Write-in | 19 | 0.12 | ||
| Total votes | 16,309 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Nathan Coulter (incumbent) | 13,244 | 64.08 | |
| Republican | Lion Dale Johnson | 7,373 | 35.67 | |
| Write-in | 51 | 0.25 | ||
| Total votes | 20,668 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Personal life
editCoulter lives in Bloomington, Minnesota, with his spouse, Charity, and has two children.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Coulter, Nathan - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Rep. Nathan Coulter (51B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Otárola, Miguel (November 8, 2017). "In west metro, newcomers step in to win municipal seats". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ Hyatt, Kim (November 7, 2021). "After three days of hand counting ballots, three council races called in Bloomington". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ Hyatt, Kim (January 12, 2022). "Golden Valley, Hopkins pass mask mandates". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ Coolican, J. Patrick (2023-06-26). "The Easter eggs: The good stuff the Legislature passed you may not have heard about". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ Deng, Grace (January 11, 2023). "Right to vote for people on parole or probation clears first hurdle in Minnesota House". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ Albertson-Grove, Josie (March 30, 2023). "State grant would give Bloomington $5M for World's Fair prep". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ Albertson-Grove, Josie; Van Berkel, Jessie (June 21, 2023). "Minnesota loses 2027 Expo bid". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 51B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "2024 Results for All State Representative Races". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved 18 November 2024.