# E. Nelson Cole

Edward Nelson Cole (born Charlotte, North Carolina, March 29, 1937) is a former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly. A resident of Reidsville, North Carolina, he represented the state's sixty-fifth House district, which includes constituents in Rockingham County, for eight terms.
A graduate of the University of South Carolina (1962), Cole worked as a manager for Ford Motor Company until becoming an auto dealer in 1980. Cole has been active on transportation-related issues, sponsoring a bicycle safety law and being a member of several national transportation groups - the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Council and the National Conference of State Legislatures standing committee on transportation. As of the 2009-2010 session, he was the co-chairman of the legislature's Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee.
Cole was defeated for re-election to his House seat by conservative independent candidate Bert Jones on November 2, 2010. In the 2012 election, Cole is running to attempt a comeback and return to his former seat.

## Electoral history
### 2012

North Carolina House of Representatives 91st district general election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bryan Holloway (incumbent) | 22,417 | 61.00% |
| | Democratic | Nelson Cole | 14,334 | 39.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,751 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Bert Jones | 9,628 | 56.01% |
| | Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 7,561 | 43.99% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,189 | 100% |
| | Independent gain from Democratic | Independent gain from Democratic | Independent gain from Democratic | Independent gain from Democratic |

### 2008

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district Democratic primary election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 8,121 | 75.57% |
| | Democratic | Vanessa McGee Smith-Kearney | 2,626 | 24.43% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,747 | 100% |
North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 20,495 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,495 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2006

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 9,749 | 66.56% |
| | Republican | Michael Moore | 4,897 | 33.44% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,646 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2004

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 13,890 | 52.65% |
| | Republican | Wayne Sexton (incumbent) | 12,493 | 47.35% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,383 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2002

North Carolina House of Representatives 65th district general election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 13,465 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,465 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |