Kameron Nelson

American politician

Kameron Nelson is an American politician who has been a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives representing district 10, covering a portion of Sioux Falls in Minnehaha County, since January 10, 2023.^[1] He has also served a minority whip.^[2] He is the first openly gay man to serve in the South Dakota legislature. He is a member of the Democratic Party.^[3]^[4] He worked for several years in philanthropy and in 2024 became CEO of Lost&Found, a suicide prevention nonprofit.

Nelson grew up in Rapid City and earned a bachelor's degree in communications studies and theater at South Dakota State University. After working for several years in theater production he launched a career in philanthropy. After a stint at the Black Hills Works Foundation, he was director of major gifts for the LifeScape Foundation, which provides resources for children and adults with disabilities and complex medical care, for five years. In August 2024, he was named CEO of Lost&Found, a regional nonprofit devoted to suicide prevention and follow-up programs for youth and young adults, effective October 1.^[5] He lives in Sioux Falls.^[4]^[6] He heads the board of the South Dakota Transformation Project, which provides services and education related to transgender.^[7]

Nelson is running for reelection in November 2024; he was not opposed in the June 2024 primary election.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Kameron Nelson at Ballotpedia
^ "Representative Kameron Nelson – 2023". sdlegislature.gov. State of South Dakota. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
^ Ring, Trudy (November 9, 2022). "South Dakota Elects First Gay Male Legislator, Kameron Nelson". The Advocate. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Matzen, Morgan (November 9, 2022). "Kameron Nelson is first openly gay man elected to South Dakota Legislature". Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
^ Marttila-Losure, Heidi (August 26, 2024). "Kameron Nelson will be Lost&Found's new CEO". Resilient Today. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
^ "Meet Kameron". Kameron Nelson. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
^ "About Us". South Dakota Transformation Project. Retrieved August 24, 2024.

Additional sources

"First openly gay man elected to South Dakota Legislature". Keloland (Interview). Interviewed by Jazmine Jackson.
Hult, John (May 20, 2023). "LGBTQ+ candidate recruitment event draws dozens to downtown Sioux Falls". South Dakota Searchlight.
Nelson, Kameron (April 23, 2023). "Matters of the State: Education standards; Rep. Kameron Nelson discusses first term". Dakota News Now (Interview). Interviewed by Austin Goss.
"Navigating Mental Health: How Lost&Found Supports Suicide Loss Survivors". Sioux Empire United Way.