# Jim Nash (politician) *American politician who has served in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2015* James A. Nash (born September 23, 1967) is a [[Republican Party of Minnesota]] politician who has held a seat in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] since 2015.[^1] He represents District 48A. The district lies in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area and takes in [[Waconia]], Victoria and [[Chaska]], along with parts of Carver County.[^1] Before entering the Legislature, Nash sat on the Waconia City Council and served as the city's mayor.[^2] He won his House seat in 2014 and has been returned at each biennial election since. In 2025 he became the House majority whip.[^3][^4] ## Early life, education, and career Nash earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha in geographic information systems and political geography. He went on to graduate study in geography at the same university. His employment is in the cybersecurity field.[^2] Waconia voters elected him to the city council in 2008. He then held the mayoralty for two terms, from 2011 through 2014.[^2] ## Minnesota House of Representatives Nash first sought the House seat in 2014, when Republican Ernie Leidiger chose not to run again after two terms. Nash won the Republican primary over Bob Frey, whose views had drawn press attention.[^3] Within the House, Nash was an assistant majority leader in 2017–2018. In 2018 he was named as a potential contender for majority leader. He was an assistant minority leader from 2019 through 2022, and he became majority whip in 2025.[^4] He has served as the minority's lead member on the State and Local Government Finance and Policy Committee. He also holds seats on the Ways and Means, Rules and Legislative Administration, and Housing Finance and Policy committees.[^4] In the 2016 Republican presidential primary, Nash endorsed Carly Fiorina, as did 21 state Republican leaders.[^5] In 2021 he backed Jennifer Carnahan, then chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota, in her decision to retire. That decision followed the indictment on sex trafficking charges of a close associate and campaign donor of hers.[^5] In 2019, Governor [[Tim Walz]]'s administration asked Nash, a cybersecurity professional, whether he would apply to lead MNIT, the state's information technology agency. He turned the offer down, remarking, "It's a job that even under a Republican governor I don't know that I would have taken." He also expressed cautious optimism about Tarek Tomes, who was eventually chosen for the post.[^5] ### Political positions Nash wrote the bill establishing a Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity and later sat on that commission. He has pressed for regular briefings on the condition of [[Minnesota]]'s cybersecurity.[^6] He has urged greater investment in cybersecurity and in readiness for cyber attacks, saying, "It's not a matter of if".[^6] ## Personal life Nash has six children. He and his spouse, Kim, make their home in Waconia.[^7] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - James A. Nash was born on September 23, 1967. He is a Republican member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.[^1] ### What - Nash holds the District 48A House seat. Outside the Legislature, he works in cybersecurity.[^1][^2] ### When - He won election to the Waconia City Council in 2008 and served as mayor of Waconia from 2011 to 2014.[^2] - He won election to the House in 2014 and has served since 2015.[^1][^3] - He was assistant majority leader in 2017–2018 and assistant minority leader in 2019–2022. He became majority whip in 2025.[^4] ### Where - District 48A includes Waconia, Victoria, Chaska and parts of Carver County.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jim Nash (politician)* (revision 1365611023, retrieved 2026-10-26) — birth date, party, House service since 2015, District 48A and its communities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Nash_(politician) [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jim Nash (politician)* (revision 1365611023, retrieved 2026-10-26) — education, Waconia City Council election (2008), mayoralty (2011–2014), cybersecurity employment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Nash_(politician) [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jim Nash (politician)* (revision 1365611023, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2014 election, Leidiger's retirement, primary against Frey, reelection record. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Nash_(politician) [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jim Nash (politician)* (revision 1365611023, retrieved 2026-10-26) — committee assignments; assistant majority leader (2017–2018), assistant minority leader (2019–2022), majority whip (2025). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Nash_(politician) [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jim Nash (politician)* (revision 1365611023, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2016 Fiorina endorsement, 2021 statement on Carnahan, 2019 MNIT approach and quotation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Nash_(politician) [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jim Nash (politician)* (revision 1365611023, retrieved 2026-10-26) — Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity bill and membership; cybersecurity positions and quotation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Nash_(politician) [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jim Nash (politician)* (revision 1365611023, retrieved 2026-10-26) — residence and family. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Nash_(politician)