Elias Coop-GonzalezServing

Elias Coop-Gonzalez

State HouseRepublican

WV-67 State House

Age 23·Guatemalan-American·West Virginia House of Delegates, District 67 (since December 2022)

Why This Race Matters

Coop-Gonzalez will not seek re-election in 2026, announcing plans to join the U.S. Armed Forces. At 23, he is one of the youngest state legislators in the country and only the second Hispanic member of the WV House. His departure leaves District 67 as an open seat.

First elected in 2022 at age 20 by defeating two-term incumbent Cody Thompson with 60%, then re-elected in 2024 with 54.5%. His final-session legislation includes the SOAR Act (HB 4720) to improve rural school access, co-sponsored with Patricia Rucker. He cited his "lifelong calling to serve in the Armed Forces" as reason for not filing for the May 12 primary.

About

Elias Coop-Gonzalez is a Guatemalan-American Republican serving in the West Virginia House of Delegates for District 67 (Pendleton and Randolph Counties). Born in Panajachel, Guatemala to an American father and Guatemalan mother, he is the second of three sons. He moved to West Virginia at age 13 after his parents' divorce. Elected at just 20 years old in 2022, he is one of the youngest state legislators in the United States and only the second Hispanic member of the WV House of Delegates.

Family & Heritage

Born May 2, 2002 in Panajachel, Guatemala to an American father and Guatemalan mother. Second of three sons. His maternal grandparents grew up in rural Central America with no running water or electricity during 35 years of civil war. His paternal grandparents grew up during the Great Depression in West Texas with American Indian heritage. Moved to West Virginia at age 13 after his parents' divorce.

Political Career

Before Politics

Lifeguard and swim instructor at YMCA (3 years); Intern for U.S. Congressman Alex X. Mooney; Heritage Foundation Young Leaders Program (2020); Leadership Institute Digital Training Intern; Deputy Assistant to the President of The Leadership Institute

Education

B.A. in Economics and Business Administration, Liberty University (2024); Tygart Valley Christian Academy (Randolph County, WV)

Key Issues & Priorities

*Education reform and rural school access (SOAR Act)
*Second Amendment rights
*Religious freedom
*Election integrity
*Tax relief for families
*Pro-life advocacy
*Veterans affairs

Notable Legislation

HB 4720 - SOAR Act

Creating Opportunities for Academics in Rural Schools, removing barriers to academic programs in rural districts

HB 2067 - Firearms Liability Clarification

signed into law

HB 2387 - Class A1 Pistol Stamp Repeal

signed into law

HCR 33 - Rename Spruce Knob as Trump Mountain

HB 2573 - Tax Exemption for Large Families

HB 2724 - Civics and History Education Requirements

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