Nelson for District21 A
Nelson for 21A
Meet Rusty Nelson
I didn’t take the traditional path to politics — and that’s exactly why I’m the right person to represent District 21A.
Born into a family with deep Minnesota roots in Kittson, Roseau, and Polk Counties, I moved frequently as a child because of my parents’ service in the Air Force and Civil Service. We lived in Hawaii, Nebraska, Puerto Rico, and North Dakota. Those experiences taught me early on how to adapt, listen, and connect with people from many different backgrounds.
I earned a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of North Dakota and conducted research in Scotland, at the University of Minnesota, and South Dakota State University. For 29 years I taught science — 20 of those years at Lincoln HI in Ivanhoe — and I still serve as an EMT in our community.
My wife and I raised three children who were active in 4-H. I’ve sung in choirs, acted in community theater, and volunteered at the Lake Benton Opera House. Today, I serve as a church trustee, president of the Hendricks Senior Center (where we recently started serving breakfast three days a week), and I head the garden crew at our local nursing home.
This Campaign Is About You
To me, this campaign isn’t just about policies— it’s about people.
It’s about every family who depends on a local hospital.
Every volunteer who answers the call.
Every community member working to make our towns stronger.
That’s the kind of trust I hope to earn from you.
What He Stands For
L.S. “Rusty” Nelson has spent his life serving others — as a scientist, educator, EMT, volunteer, community leader, and neighbor. Now, he’s running for Minnesota House District 21A because he believes rural communities deserve leaders who listen, collaborate, and work to solve real problems.
Rusty’s roots run deep in rural Minnesota. His parents and grandparents came from northwest Minnesota, and although his family moved often during his childhood due to military and civil service work, the values of hard work, community, and service always remained constant. Those experiences taught him adaptability, resilience, and the importance of understanding different perspectives.
For more than 30 years, Rusty has proudly called Hendricks home.
Deeply Invested in Community
Rusty believes strong communities are built by neighbors helping neighbors.
He has served as a church president and trustee, volunteered at local nursing homes, led gardening projects for residents and visitors, participated in community theater and choirs, and supported his children through years of 4-H involvement at the local, county, and state levels.
As president of the Hendricks Senior Center, Rusty recently helped launch a community breakfast program after local restaurant closures left residents with limited options. What started as a small volunteer effort quickly became another example of neighbors stepping up for one another.
Rusty is also on the Board of Directors for the Hendricks Memorial Healthcare Foundation, helping manage four scholarship programs and other related projects.
These experiences continue to shape Rusty’s belief that communities succeed when people work together with compassion and common sense.
A Lifetime of Learning & Service
Rusty studied Biology, Chemistry, and Spanish at Concordia College in Moorhead before earning his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of North Dakota. His career included years of biochemical research in Scotland, Minnesota, and South Dakota before transitioning into education.
For nearly three decades, Rusty taught science and chemistry to students in Ivanhoe and Watertown, helping young people discover curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking skills that would serve them throughout life.
But his service didn’t stop in the classroom. Rusty has also served his community for more than 20 years as a local EMT, witnessing firsthand the importance of strong rural healthcare systems and emergency services. Those experiences are a major reason he decided to run for office.
Why Rusty is Running
Rusty is running because he believes rural Minnesota is at a turning point.
He is especially concerned about the future of rural healthcare, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and ambulance services. Medicaid cuts threaten essential services that many communities depend on, and Rusty believes lawmakers must act now to protect access to care in rural areas.
He is also focused on supporting volunteer emergency responders, strengthening local communities, and advocating for greater stability for farmers, ranchers, businesses, and families facing rising costs and economic uncertainty.
Rusty’s message is simple:
We can fix problems when we work together, listen to one another, and focus on practical solutions.
Why I'm Running
"Medicaid cuts begin in January. Our rural hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and ambulance services are in real danger. We need strong, experienced leadership that will fight to protect healthcare access in southwest Minnesota.
I believe we can fix problems of any size when we listen to one another and work together. That’s the approach I’ve used my whole life — in research, in the classroom, and in our community — and that’s what I will bring to the Minnesota House of Representatives."
--- Rusty Nelson
A Leader Who Listens
Throughout his career in research, education, and public service, Rusty has learned that no one person has all the answers.
He believes leadership starts with listening.
Rusty values the ideas, experiences, and concerns of the people he hopes to represent, and he is committed to bringing collaboration, thoughtful problem-solving, and genuine respect to the Minnesota Legislature.
Faith and Values
Faith has been an important part of my life for a very long time
Faith shapes how I approach family, community, and public service. It reminds me that leadership begins with humility, compassion, and a willingness to listen. I am far from perfect, but I strive to live by the words of the Lord's Prayer: "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
As I considered running for the Minnesota House of Representatives, I was drawn to Isaiah 50:4: "The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught."
As a husband, father, grandfather, retired educator, and community volunteer, I hope I have, and continue to, offer encouragement and hope to those around me – family, friends, students, and strangers. The more I learn, the more I realize how much there is still to learn. In this campaign, I will continue striving to be a good listener, to treat others with respect, and to serve with humility and gratitude.
