Jane Nelson

Jane Nelson
Member of the Texas Senate from the 12th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 2003
Preceded by	Mike Moncrief
Member of the Texas Senate from the 9th district
In office 1995–2003
Preceded by	David Sibley
Succeeded by	Chris Harris
Member of the Texas Senate from the 22nd district
In office 1993–1995
Preceded by	Bob Glasgow
Succeeded by	David Sibley
Personal details
Born	October 5, 1951 Hamilton, Ohio
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	J. Michael Nelson
Children	Brian, Elizabeth, Christina, Michelle, and Jennifer
Residence	Flower Mound, Texas
Alma mater	B.S., North Texas State University
Occupation	Businesswoman

Jane Gray Nelson^[1] (born October 5, 1951)^[2] is an American businesswoman and former teacher who represents Texas Senate District 12, encompassing parts of Denton and Tarrant counties. She was elected to the Senate in 1992 after serving two terms on the Texas State Board of Education.

Texas Senate

Senator Nelson is the highest ranking Republican in the Texas Senate. The tenth woman ever elected to the Texas Senate, she was the first Republican woman ever appointed chair of a standing committee and now holds the distinction of being longest serving chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee in Texas history. In 2015, she was appointed chair of the Senate Finance Committee, being the first woman to hold the position in the history of the Texas Senate. She also serves as chair of the Sunset Advisory Commission.

During the 2013 legislative session,Senator Nelson authored 40 bills that were passed into law by the Legislature, and she served as the Senate sponsor on 30 successful bills authored by House members. She served on 19 conference committees, including for SB 1, the appropriations bill. Senator Nelson chaired the Article II workgroup, which increased the women's health budget by $100 million and made significant new investments in mental health and Child Protective Services.

Senate Health and Human Services Committee

In July 2013, Nelson presided over a 16-hour hearing on an abortion bill that drew testimony from over 3,800 people, including 357 who provided oral testimony. The bill, HB 3, sought to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The bill also required abortion facilities to upgrade to ambulatory surgical standards.

Election history

1992

Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 22^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Democratic	Bob Glasgow (Incumbent)	92,113	39.70
	Republican	Jane Nelson	139,901	60.30
Majority			47,778	20.60
Turnout			232,014
	Republican gain from Democratic

1994

Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 9^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Jane Nelson (Incumbent)[5]	127,623	100.00	+39.44
Majority			127,623	100.00	+78.88
Turnout			127,623		-31.75
	Republican hold

1996

Texas general election, 1996: Senate District 9^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Jane Nelson (Incumbent)	160,296	100.00	0.00
Majority			160,296	100.00	0.00
Turnout			160,296		+25.60
	Republican hold

2000

Texas general election, 2000: Senate District 9^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Jane Nelson (Incumbent)	207,079	100.00	0.00
Majority			207,079	100.00	0.00
Turnout			207,079		+29.19
	Republican hold

2002

Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 12^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Jane Nelson (Incumbent)[9]	121,991	89.83	+53.49
	Libertarian	Steve Rushton	13,818	10.17	+10.17
Majority			108,173	79.65	+52.33
Turnout			135,809		-20.20
	Republican gain from Democratic

2006

Texas general election, 2006: Senate District 12^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Jane Nelson (Incumbent)	109,513	63.98	-25.84
	Democratic	Dwight B. Fullingham	55,380	32.35	+32.35
	Libertarian	Morgan Ware	6,273	3.66	-6.51
Majority			54,133	31.63	-48.02
Turnout			171,166		+26.03
	Republican hold

2010

Texas general election, 2010: Senate District 12^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Jane Nelson (Incumbent)	148,508	86%
	Libertarian	Mark Frohman	23,878	14%
Majority
Turnout
	Republican hold

Family

Nelson and her husband, Mike Nelson, have five adult children and nine grandchildren.

References

1. "Capitol Connection: Jane Nelson". UTA Magazine. XXIII (2). Winter 2001. Archived from the original on September 8, 2006. Retrieved January 3, 2007.
2. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) (September 13, 2002). "State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election". Retrieved December 26, 2006.
3. "1992 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved January 4, 2007.
4. "1994 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved January 3, 2007.
5. Nelson was the District 22 incumbent prior to the 1994 Senate redistricting.
6. "1996 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved January 3, 2007.
7. "2000 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved January 3, 2007.
8. "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved January 3, 2007.
9. Nelson was the District 9 incumbent prior to the 2002 Senate redistricting.
10. "2006 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved January 3, 2007.
11. "Elections 2011". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. July 8, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2013.

External links

• Senate of Texas - Senator Jane Nelson
• Jane Nelson campaign website
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Jane Gray Nelson (TX) profile
• Follow the Money - Jane Nelson
  • 2006 2004 2002 2000 campaign contributions