Elias Coop-Gonzalez
Elias Coop-Gonzalez | |
|---|---|
Coop-Gonzalez at the 2024 Hazlitt Summit | |
| Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates | |
| Assumed office December 7, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Cody Thompson |
| Constituency | 67th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Elías Gordén Coop-González May 2, 2002 |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Tygart Valley Christian Academy |
| Alma mater | Liberty University (BS) |
| Website | Official website |
Elias Coop-Gonzalez (/kuːp/; KuP Gon-Sales; born May 2, 2002) is an American politician. He currently serves as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates for District 67, which encompasses Randolph County and Pendleton County, for the Republican Party. He assumed office on December 1, 2022.[1] Coop-Gonzalez is among the youngest state legislators in the United States, running at age 19 and taking office at 20. He currently sits on four committees: Banking and Insurance, Energy and Manufacturing, Political Subdivisions, and Veterans Affairs/Homeland Security.[2][3]
Early life and education
Coop-Gonzalez was born May 2, 2002 in Guatemala to an American father and a Guatemalan mother. He is the second of three sons raised in Panajachel. After his parents' divorce, he moved to the United States at age 12.[4] He finished growing up in Elkins, West Virginia and in 2020 was graduated as valedictorian from Tygart Valley Christian Academy. He has a degree in business administration and economics from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.[5][6]
Career
Coop-Gonzalez interned for congressman Alex Mooney and worked for the Leadership Institute, a co-educational non-profit in Arlington, Virginia. During Donald Trump's re-election campaign, he was the youngest member of the West Virginia delegation of the Republican National Convention.[7]
In the 2022 West Virginia House of Delegates election, Coop-Gonzalez defeated the incumbent, civics teacher Cody Thompson (D). In the 2024 rematch between Coop-Gonzalez and Thompson, the former prevailed but saw his victory margin dwindle to nine points. His current term ends on December 1, 2026.[8][3]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Elias Coop-Gonzalez | 3490 | 60.29 |
| Democratic | Cody Thompson | 2299 | 39.71 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Elias Coop-Gonzalez | 4358 | 54.54 |
| Democratic | Cody Thompson | 3632 | 45.46 |
References
- ^ "Coop-Gonzalez, 20, set to be sworn in as a delegate this week". theintermountain.com. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ https://www.wvlegislature.gov/House/lawmaker.cfm?member=Delegate%20Coop-Gonzalez
- ^ a b "Elias Coop-Gonzalez". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ 02:04 to 02:20 mins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v18oVwzy3rc
- ^ "At 20, Liberty student becomes youngest delegate in West Virginia House » Liberty News". Liberty News. January 20, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ "Elias Coop-Gonzales". Conservation West Virginia. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ "District 067 – Elias Coop-Gonzalez". West Virginia Republican Leadership Committee. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ "GOP increases supermajorities in West Virginia House, Senate". AP NEWS. November 9, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2023.