Elias Coop-Gonzalez

Elías Gorden Coop-González (/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-González is among the youngest state legislators in the United States, 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]

Elías Coop-González
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
Sololá, 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-González 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 grew up in Elkins, West Virginia and in 2020 was graduated as valedictorian from Tygart Valley Christian Academy. He is currently pursuing a degree in business administration and economics from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.[5][6]

Career

Before running for office, Coop-González 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-González defeated the incumbent, civics teacher Cody Thompson (D). His current term ends on December 1, 2024.[8][3]

Electoral History
PartyCandidateVotes %
RepublicanElías Coop-González349060.29
DemocraticCody Thompson229939.71

References
  1. "Coop-González, 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. "Elías Coop-González". 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-Gonzáles". Conservation West Virginia. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  7. "District 067 – Elías Coop-González". 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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