Sen. Carla Nelson Earns Perfect Score on Small Business Voting Record

State Senator Carla Nelson (Rochester) received a 100% rating from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a national organization representing small business owners, according to a scorecard the group released this month. Sen. Nelson was one of 26 Minnesota senators who voted to support local business priorities on every bill NFIB tracked during the 2025-2026 legislative session.

The scorecard was based on votes covering health insurance costs, sick leave regulations, and a proposed mandate requiring businesses to provide seating for workers. These issues carry financial significance for small business owners, who must budget for insurance premiums, staffing costs, and compliance with new workplace rules. NFIB Minnesota State Director Jon Boesche noted that a separate paid family and medical leave tax requirement, which took effect this January, has already made daily operations more difficult for many local businesses, adding further importance to how lawmakers voted on these related proposals.

Sen. Nelson said the scorecard results reflect a larger trend in the Legislature.

“I am grateful to be recognized again for my support of Minnesota’s incredible local businesses,” Sen. Nelson said. “Unfortunately, this report is reflective of how divisive the legislature has become. That is certainly understandable for some issues, but one would hope that supporting the small businesses that line main streets across Minnesota would have much stronger bipartisan support. It is a concerning trend.”

Most senators scored either close to 100% or close to zero, with very few landing in between. That divide suggests local business policy has become as politically polarized as many other issues at the Capitol.

For constituents and local business owners, the scorecard is a useful tool to evaluate their elected officials. It does not capture every action a senator takes, but it does provide a snapshot of how lawmakers supported the priorities local businesses identified as most pressing during the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions.