Mike Erickson
Personal details
Born (1963-01-27) January 27, 1963
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationPortland State University (BA)

Mike Erickson (born January 27, 1963[1]) is an American businessman and political candidate in the U.S. state of Oregon.[2] He was the Republican nominee for the United States House of Representatives in Oregon's 6th congressional district he lost by 2% in a very close contested election in 2022. Previously, Erickson was the Republican nominee for Oregon's 5th congressional district in 2006 (losing to incumbent Darlene Hooley) and in 2008 (losing to Democrat Kurt Schrader).

Life and career

The son of a police officer, Erickson attended Portland State University where he was a placekicker and punter on Portland State's football team from 1985 to 1988, and ranks second on the school's list for field goals made with 32.[3] Erickson earned a business degree from Portland State in 1987.[4]

After college, he started AFMS Logistics Management Group, which helps companies negotiate competitive shipping contracts. The company made Inc. magazine's list of the 500 fastest-growing companies in the United States twice: in 2004, it was number 319 and in 2005, it was number 350.[5][6]

Early political career

In 1988, Erickson was the Republican candidate for the Oregon House of Representatives seat representing Tigard, but lost to Democrat Tom Brian.[7] In 1992, Erickson again ran for a different Oregon House seat in Southeast Portland, losing to Kate Brown.[8]

In 2006, Erickson was the Republican nominee for the United States House of Representatives seat in Oregon's 5th congressional district against incumbent Democrat Darlene Hooley, who defeated Erickson.

2008 congressional campaign

In 2008, Hooley announced her retirement from the House.[9] Once again, Erickson ran for the Republican nomination, as did Republican opponent former gubernatorial candidate Kevin Mannix. In the closing weeks of the Republican primary, Mannix mailed 60,000 of his supporters copies of an email that alleged that in 2000, Erickson drove his pregnant girlfriend to a Portland abortion clinic and paid for her to have an abortion.[10] The author of the email, a friend of the pregnant woman, originally sent the email in 2006 during Erickson's first congressional campaign, but had declined to give on-the-record interviews at that time. In May 2008, both women were interviewed by the Portland Tribune about the incident.[11] Erickson denied the charges, stating that he drove a former girlfriend named Tawnya to a doctor's appointment and gave her $300, but did not know she was pregnant or had an abortion.[12] In June, The Oregonian published a story based on claims from the woman herself, in which she described the event in more detail.[13]

Erickson narrowly won the Republican nomination, but Mannix refused to endorse him in the general election,[14] as did Oregon Right to Life.[15] The two Oregon Republican members of Congress, Senator Gordon Smith and Congressman Greg Walden, also declined to endorse Erickson.[16] Erickson lost in the general election to Democrat Kurt Schrader.[17]

2022 congressional campaign

On March 8, 2022, Erickson filed to run for Oregon's newly created 6th congressional district. He won the Republican primary election and faced Democratic nominee Andrea Salinas in the November 2022 general election. Erickson lost the November general election.[18]

Erickson has filed a defamation against Andrea Salinas over her use of a political ad talking about his arrest in 2016.[19] On Thursday December 1, 2022, the judge overseeing the case allowed the case to continue. This is significant because this case cites Oregon Revised Statute 260.532, which could overturn the election results. Erickson's attorney has stated that Erickson isn't currently seeking to bar Andrea Salinas from her elected office at this time.[20]

Electoral history

2006 US House of Representatives, Oregon's 5th congressional district [21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darlene Hooley 146,973 54.0
Republican Mike Erickson 116,424 42.8
Progressive Paul Aranas 4,194 1.5
Constitution Douglas Patterson 4,160 1.5
Write-in 483 0.2
Total votes 272,234 100%
2008 US House of Representatives, Oregon's 5th congressional district [22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kurt Schrader 181,577 54.3
Republican Mike Erickson 128,297 38.3
Independent Sean Bates 6,830 2.0
Constitution Douglas Patterson 6,558 2.0
Pacific Green Alex Polikoff 5,272 1.6
Libertarian Steve Milligan 4,814 1.4
Write-in 1,326 0.4
Total votes 334,674 100%
2022 US House of Representatives, Oregon's 6th congressional district [23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Salinas 147,156 50.0
Republican Mike Erickson 139,946 47.5
Constitution Larry D McFarland 6,762 2.3
Write-in 513 0.2
Total votes 294,377 100%

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. House, Oregon District 5". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 10, 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  2. ↑ Grisales, Claudia (2022-11-07). "A tight congressional race in Oregon could signal the breadth of the GOP's reach". NPR. Archived from the original on 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  3. ↑ "Portland State 2010 Football Season Wrapup". GoViks.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  4. ↑ "About Mike". EricksonForCongress.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-11. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  5. ↑ "AFMS". Inc. Magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-05-17.
  6. ↑ "AFMS". Inc. Magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-05-17.
  7. ↑ Ota, Alan K (1988-11-09). "Battle rages for House". The Oregonian.
  8. ↑ "Multnomah Co". The Oregonian. 1992-11-05.
  9. ↑ "Democratic Rep. Darlene Hooley Won't Seek Re-Election". FOXnews.com. February 7, 2008. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  10. ↑ Kraushaar, Josh (2008-05-14). "Oregon GOP Primary Gets Personal". cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-19. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  11. ↑ Law, Steve (2008-05-12). "Woman says Erickson paid for abortion". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on 2010-05-29. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  12. ↑ Mayes, Steve (2008-05-16). "Erickson answers Mannix's accusation". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  13. ↑ Har, Janie (2008-06-23). "Oregon City woman details abortion, relationship with Mike Erickson". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
  14. ↑ Kraushaar, Josh (2008-05-21). "Mannix refuses to endorse Erickson". CBSNews.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-14. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  15. ↑ Frazier, Joseph (2008-05-15). "Oregon Right to Life calls on Erickson to drop out of GOP race". KGW Northwest News Channel 8. Archived from the original on October 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
  16. ↑ Baer, April (2008-04-29). "With Primary Behind Them, 5th District Contenders Prepare For November". OPB.org. Archived from the original on 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
  17. ↑ "Schrader wins 5th District". OregonLive.com. 2008-11-04. Archived from the original on 2008-11-08. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
  18. ↑ Shumway, Julia (November 14, 2022). "State Rep. Andrea Salinas, a Democrat, wins in Oregon's 6th Congressional District". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  19. ↑ Shumway, Julia (October 6, 2022). "Oregon congressional candidate Mike Erickson sues opponent Andrea Salinas over negative ad". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  20. ↑ Shumway, Julia (December 1, 2022). "Attorney says Erickson isn't trying to overturn Salinas's election as lawsuit continues". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  21. ↑ "Official Results | November 7, 2006". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Official Results | November 4, 2008". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  23. ↑ "November 8, 2022, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
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