Elias Coop-Gonzalez

Elias Gorden 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 of the United States, being aged 20, when taking office. He is currently a member of the Banking and Insurance, Energy and Manufacturing, Political Subdivisions as well as Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security committees.[2][3]

Elias Coop-Gonzalez
Official portrait, 2023
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
Assumed office
December 7, 2022
Preceded byCody Thompson
Constituency67th district
Personal details
Born
Elías Gorden Coop-González

(2002-05-02) May 2, 2002
Solola, Guatemala
Nationality
  • United States
  • Guatemala
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Elkins, West Virginia, U.S.
EducationTygart Valley Christian Academy
Alma materLiberty University (BS) (enrolled)
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life and education

Coop-Gonzalez was born May 2, 2002, in Guatemala to an American father and a Guatemalan mother. His parents divorced and he moved to the United States at age 12.[4] He grew-up in Elkins, West Virginia. He attended Tygart Valley Christian Academy, where he graduated with a high school diploma in 2020. He is currently enrolled and pursuing a Bachelor of Science in business administration and economics from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.[5][6]

Politics

Before formally entering politics, 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 from the Republican National Convention from West Virginia.[7]

In the 2022 West Virginia House of Delegates election, he defeated incumbent Cody Thompson (D) and assumed office on December 1, 2022. His current term ends on December 1, 2024.[8][3]

References
  1. "Coop-Gonzalez, 20, set to be sworn in as a delegate this week". theintermountain.com. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  2. https://www.wvlegislature.gov/House/lawmaker.cfm?member=Delegate%20Coop-Gonzalez
  3. "Elias Coop-Gonzalez". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  4. 02:04 to 02:20 mins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v18oVwzy3rc
  5. "At 20, Liberty student becomes youngest delegate in West Virginia House » Liberty News". Liberty News. January 20, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  6. "Elias Coop-Gonzales". Conservation West Virginia. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  7. "District 067 – Elias Coop-Gonzalez". West Virginia Republican Leadership Committee. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  8. "GOP increases supermajorities in West Virginia House, Senate". AP NEWS. November 9, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
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