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. 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.

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. 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.

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.

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.