Napoleon J. Nelson, Sr. is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 154th Legislative District since December 2020. A native of Philadelphia’s Mt. Airy neighborhood, he moved to Cheltenham Township in 2003 and became the first Black state representative for the district after winning the 2020 election with 77.5% of the vote in the general election following a six-way Democratic primary victory. He was re-elected in 2022 with 80.7% of the vote. Notable achievements include serving as chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, founding and chairing the Emerging Technologies Caucus, and membership in the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus and Southeast Delegation. He currently serves on the Appropriations, Children & Youth, Education, Aging & Older Adult Services, and Finance committees.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Central High School , earned a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
• Professional Background: Finance professional with experience in investment analysis, planning & analysis, and corporate strategy at companies like Vanguard, Campbell Soup, and SEI Investments. Founded the Market Literacy Project to create financial literacy materials for students. Served on the board of trustees for Montgomery County Community College.
• Political Experience: Elected to Cheltenham School Board in 2011, chaired Finance and Personnel committees, and served as president; stepped down upon election as Cheltenham Township Finance Officer in 2017 . Active in community and civic leadership since moving to Cheltenham.