Jack Nelsen

{{short description|American politician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Jack Nelsen

| state_house = Idaho

| district = 26B

| term_start = December 1, 2022

| predecessor = Sally Toone

| party = Republican

| alma_mater = College of Southern Idaho (AA)
University of Redlands (BA)
Boise State University (MEd)

| occupation = Music teacher, dairy farmer

| spouse = Emily Mills (m. 1980)

| children = 3

| residence = Jerome, Idaho

| known_for = Comments comparing milking cows to reproductive healthcare

}}

Jack Sonnich Nelsen is an American politician, retired music teacher, and dairy farmer, representing District 26B in the Idaho House of Representatives since 2022.{{Cite web |last=Suppe |first=Ryan |date=January 13, 2023 |title=Idaho lawmaker ‘embarrassed,’ sorry for comparing women to dairy cows |url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article271156012.html |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=Idaho Statesman |publisher=Idaho Statesman}}{{Cite web|title=Rep. Jack Nelsen (R) |website=Idaho Legislature |publisher=Idaho State Legislature |url=https://legislature.idaho.gov/legislators/membership/2023/id7838/ |access-date=January 15, 2023}} A member of the Republican Party, Nelsen generated controversy in his first-ever House Agricultural Affairs Committee meeting{{Cite tweet|title=ICYMI: Idaho Republican Rep. Jack Nelsen compares women to farm animals and says experience working with cattle has given him "ideas on repro and women's health thing" in his first-ever committee meeting. |url=https://twitter.com/IdahoDems/status/1613582338834993154?s=20&t=SZENn05jFG5EeEKbe1DoyA |user=IdahoDems |number=1613582338834993154 |date=January 12, 2023 |access-date=January 15, 2023}} for saying he had "definite opinions" about reproduction and women's health because of his experience with cows,{{Cite web|last=Clark |first=Meredith |title=Idaho Republican legislator apologises for comparing women’s reproductive care to milking cows |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/jack-nelsen-idaho-cows-women-b2261861.html |publisher=The Independent |website=Independent |date=January 13, 2023 |access-date=January 15, 2023}}{{Cite web|last=Papenfuss |first=Mary |title=GOP State Lawmaker Has Ideas On Women's Reproductive Issues Because He Knows Cows |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jack-nelsen-idaho-cow-womens-reproductive-rights_n_63c1f3a7e4b0d6f0ba04fc9f |publisher=HuffPost |website=HuffPost |date=January 13, 2023 |access-date=January 15, 2023}} for which he subsequently apologized{{Cite web|last=Phillips |first=Aleks |title=Idaho Republican Apologizes for Comparing Women to Farm Animals |website=Newsweek |publisher=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/idaho-republican-representative-apologizes-womens-health-farm-animals-1773507 |date=January 13, 2023 |access-date=January 15, 2023}}{{Cite web|last=Kiggins |first=Steve |title=Jerome Rep. Jack Nelsen apologizes for 'inappropriate' remarks on women's reproductive care |publisher=Idaho County Free Press |website=Idaho County Free Press |url=https://www.idahocountyfreepress.com/news/state/jerome-rep-jack-nelsen-apologizes-for-inappropriate-remarks-on-womens-reproductive-care/article_386ecad0-a8cd-54f7-82bc-ecd908b6a53d.html |date=January 12, 2023 |access-date=January 15, 2023}} and clarified that he is pro-choice.{{Cite web|last=Dee |first=Mark |title=Nelsen apologizes for 'inappropriate remarks,' reiterates support for women's 'right to choose' |website=Idaho Mountain Express |publisher=Idaho Mountain Express |url=https://www.mtexpress.com/news/state_regional/nelsen-apologizes-for-inappropriate-remarks-reiterates-support-for-womens-right-to-choose/article_b7350cc0-92f6-11ed-ae47-4721ab3b86fe.html |access-date=January 15, 2023}}