Oregon State Representative, District 44 — serving since 2022. Representative Travis Nelson made history as the first openly LGBTQIA+ man of color to serve in the Oregon Legislature. Born into poverty in northern Louisiana to a teenage mother and the grandson of Louisiana sharecroppers, his family relocated to Kennewick, Washington, in search of a better life. While working as a janitor, landscaper, and coach, Representative Nelson earned an Associate of Science in Nursing from Columbia Basin Community College and later a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Washington State University. As a nurse, he became deeply involved in his union, serving on two negotiating teams and two terms as co-chair of his local unit. He was both the first person of color and the youngest person ever elected to lead his local unit. He went on to serve as a union representative and as vice president of the Oregon Nurses Association. Appointed to the Oregon House of Representatives in February 2022, Representative Nelson’s district includes North and Northeast Portland. He has become a fierce advocate for healthcare reform, workers’ rights, climate action, and affordable housing. His journey demonstrates how nurses can transform lived experience, clinical expertise, and workplace advocacy into powerful legislative leadership.