Richard Nelson
Vermont State Representative, District O-1 since 2024. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 1 yr
- Since 2024
- Bills became law
- 3
- 50 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 2.7%
- Chamber median 4.0%
- With party
- 89%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +93.6
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Agriculture, Food Resiliency and Forestry · ranking member
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Became law Jun 2025
Became law May 2025
Failed in committee May 2026
Failed in committee Feb 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Nelson sits in the Vermont House of Representatives
Nelson is closer to the center than 55% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Debbie Dolgin, Mary Morrissey, Pattie McCoy
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:08 PM ET
With Nelson’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans89%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Vermont House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Nelson’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Nelson | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 28, 2026 | S 64: An act relating to amendments to the scope of practice for optometrists | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 93–38 |
| May 26, 2026 | H 527: An act relating to extending the sunset of 30 V.S.A. § 248a | No | Yes | No | Failed 52–89 |
| May 19, 2026 | S 212: An act relating to potable water supply and wastewater system connections | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 63–74 |
| May 7, 2026 | S 209: An act relating to prohibiting civil arrest in sensitive locations | No | No | Yes | Passed 109–30 |
| May 6, 2026 | S 325: An act relating to regional planning and Act 250 Tier jurisdiction | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 66–76 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Nelson was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Vermont House of Representatives: Orleans-1 State House District | Won | R+93.6 | R+11.2 | +82.4 |
| 2024 | Vermont House of Representatives, HD-O-1 | Won | — | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Vermont Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Seats Nelson has held
- Vermont House of Representatives, District O-1 · since 2024
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Nelson has run against
- Write-in (I) · 2026 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Vermont Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Nelson
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/5a58d1ac-7e52-457a-b6f4-c46a46d073e2
- Wikidata Q135684021
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET