Elias Coop-Gonzalez (; ; 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. 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.https://www.wvlegislature.gov/House/lawmaker.cfm?member=Delegate%20Coop-Gonzalez
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 12.02:04 to 02:20 mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v18oVwzy3rc 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.
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.
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. + 2022 Election Party Candidate Votes % Republican Elias Coop-Gonzalez 3490 60.29 Democratic Cody Thompson 2299 39.71 + 2024 Election Party Candidate Votes % Republican Elias Coop-Gonzalez 4358 54.54 Democratic Cody Thompson 3632 45.46
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