Blueprint Campaign Consulting’s Eric Nelson is a campaign veteran with over a dozen years of campaign managing, consulting and fundraising experience. Bringing a wide range of skills and expertise to the table, Eric is able to offer a complete set of resources to his clients.

Eric began his political career with legendary Rock Island County Democratic Chairman John Gianulis. Eric worked closely with Gianulis, coordinating activities in Rock Island and western Illinois, including a 1994 gubernatorial primary campaign and one of the only successful Democratic State Representative campaigns in that fall’s Republican wave.

In 1996, Eric began a five year tenure as campaign manager for former Congressman Lane Evans (IL-17), coordinating three successful campaigns and raising over $3 million to beat back successive challenges in one of the most hotly contested races in the country. At the time, this was the most money ever raised in this western Illinois district.

After moving to the consulting field as Senior Account Executive at Compass Media Group (now Elevated Campaigns), Eric helped steer direct mail campaigns that elected (now Congressman) David Cicilline Mayor of Providence, RI; Congresswoman (now Senator) Tammy Baldwin and multiple legislative candidates in Ohio, Illinois and Georgia.

In 2012 and 2018, Eric managed the re-election campaigns of then-Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore in Cook County, Illinois. In this role, Eric guided Commissioner Shore to two successful re-elections, helping her earn the top vote totals in both primaries and general elections. Shore gained over 1 million votes in the 2012 general election.

Simultaneously, he served as Fundraising Consultant for Dr. David Gill’s campaign in Illinois’ 13^th Congressional District, raising nearly $1.2 million for a top tier, Red to Blue campaign and working closely with other senior staff in developing and implementing the campaign and strategic plans.

Since establishing Blueprint in 2013, Eric has served as the lead fundraising consultant for progressive organizations such as Sierra Club Illinois Chapter and Illinois Democratic Women, and the Democratic Party of the 49th Ward (Chicago). He has also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for numerous local and state candidates, including former Cook County States Attorney Anita Alvarez, Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Michael Cabonargi, State Representative Kelly Cassidy, former State Representative Mike Smiddy, State Representative Mike Halpin, MWRD Commissioner Josina Morita, Circuit Court Judge (Cook Co.) Patricia Spratt, Chicago 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith, and Evanston Mayor candidate Brian Miller.

Eric has previously served on the Victory Fund Victory Campaign Board, including as Midwest Caucus Chair in 2015 and 2016. He was a Victory Fund candidate training presenter in 2000; coordinated Gore for President activities in Scott County during the 2000 Iowa Caucuses; and was the local point of contact and lead local organizer for Secret Service and White House Advance Team staff for numerous Vice-Presidential visits. Eric lives with his husband in Chicago’s 46^th Ward.