Michael Kurtis Erickson (born January 27, 1963)[2] is an American businessman and perennial candidate in the U.S. state of Oregon.[3] 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). Erickson unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House again in 2024.
Mike Erickson | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Kurtis Erickson[1] January 27, 1963 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Portland State University (BA) |
Life and career
editThe 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.[4] Erickson earned a business degree from Portland State in 1987.[5]
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.[6][7]
Early political career
editIn 1988, Erickson was the Republican candidate for the Oregon House of Representatives seat representing Tigard, but lost to Democrat Tom Brian.[8] In 1992, Erickson again ran for a different Oregon House seat in Southeast Portland, losing to Kate Brown.[9]
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
editIn 2008, Hooley announced her retirement from the House.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] In June, The Oregonian published a story based on claims from the woman herself, in which she described the event in more detail and provided photos, medical procedure and billing records.[14]
Erickson narrowly won the Republican nomination, but Mannix refused to endorse him in the general election,[15] as did Oregon Right to Life.[16] The two Oregon Republican members of Congress, Senator Gordon Smith and Congressman Greg Walden, also declined to endorse Erickson.[17] Erickson lost in the general election to Democrat Kurt Schrader.[18]
2022 congressional campaign
editOn 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.[19]
Erickson has filed a defamation against Andrea Salinas over her use of a political ad talking about his arrest in 2016.[20] While the case was brought under a state law which could overturn the election result, Erickson's attorney stated in a December 2022 hearing that he wasn't currently seeking to prevent Salinas from taking office.[21] The case is ongoing as of February 2024.[22]
2024 congressional campaign
editOn January 31, 2024, Erickson announced a second run for the 6th district.[23] He defeated three other candidates in the May 21, 2024, Republican primary and will face incumbent Andrea Salinas in the general election.[24] Salinas defeated Erickson in the November general election.[25]
Electoral history
edit| 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% | ||
| 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% | ||
| 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% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Andrea Salinas | 180,869 | 53.3 | |
| Republican | Mike Erickson | 157,634 | 46.5 | |
| Write-in | 562 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 339,065 | 100% | ||
References
edit- ^ https://mikeericksonforcongress.org/ [bare URL]
- ^ "U.S. House, Oregon District 5". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 10, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2008.
- ^ Grisales, Claudia (November 7, 2022). "A tight congressional race in Oregon could signal the breadth of the GOP's reach". NPR. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "Portland State 2010 Football Season Wrapup". GoViks.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
- ^ "About Mike". EricksonForCongress.org. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
- ^ "AFMS". Inc. Magazine. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2008.
- ^ "AFMS". Inc. Magazine. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2008.
- ^ Ota, Alan K (November 9, 1988). "Battle rages for House". The Oregonian.
- ^ "Multnomah Co". The Oregonian. November 5, 1992.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Kraushaar, Josh (May 14, 2008). "Oregon GOP Primary Gets Personal". cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2008. Retrieved May 15, 2008.
- ^ Law, Steve (May 12, 2008). "Woman says Erickson paid for abortion". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2008.
- ^ Mayes, Steve (May 16, 2008). "Erickson answers Mannix's accusation". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on May 21, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
- ^ Har, Janie (June 23, 2008). "Oregon City woman details abortion, relationship with Mike Erickson". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2008.
- ^ Kraushaar, Josh (May 21, 2008). "Mannix refuses to endorse Erickson". CBSNews.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
- ^ Frazier, Joseph (May 15, 2008). "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 June 23, 2008.
- ^ Baer, April (April 29, 2008). "With Primary Behind Them, 5th District Contenders Prepare For November". OPB.org. Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved June 25, 2008.
- ^ "Schrader wins 5th District". OregonLive.com. November 4, 2008. Archived from the original on November 8, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
- ^ 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 December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ 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 December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ 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 December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ Fuentes, Carlos (February 7, 2024). "Congress member Andrea Salinas, former opponent Mike Erickson continue court battle over ad asserting drug charges". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ Shumway, Julia (January 31, 2024). "Republican Mike Erickson seeks rematch with Salinas in Oregon's 6th District". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ Bourgeois, Michaela (May 21, 2024). "Andrea Salinas, Mike Erickson win Oregon District 6 primaries". KOIN. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Democrat Andrea Salinas wins re-election to U.S. House in Oregon's 6th Congressional District". KOIN. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ "Official Results | November 7, 2006". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Results | November 4, 2008". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "November 5, 2024, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.