Erik Aadland
Erik Aadland (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Colorado's 7th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Aaland also ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Colorado. He did not appear on the ballot for the Republican primary on June 28, 2022.
Aaland completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Erik Aadland was born in Huntsville, Alabama. He served in the U.S. Army from 2002 to 2011. Aadland earned a bachelor's degree from the United States Military Academy in 2002 and a graduate degree from the Pacifica Graduate Institute in 2021. His career experience includes working as a project manager for Noble Energy. Aadland has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- American Legion
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- National Rifle Association
- AMVETS
- U.S. Military Academy Alumni Association
Elections
2022
U.S. House
See also: Colorado's 7th Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Colorado District 7
Brittany Pettersen defeated Erik Aadland, Ross Klopf, Critter Milton, and JP Lujan in the general election for U.S. House Colorado District 7 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Brittany Pettersen (D) | 56.4 | 204,984 |
 | Erik Aadland (R)  | 41.4 | 150,510 | |
 | Ross Klopf (L) | 1.7 | 6,187 | |
 | Critter Milton (Unity Party) | 0.5 | 1,828 | |
 | JP Lujan (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 92 | |
| Total votes: 363,601 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Colorado District 7
Brittany Pettersen advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Colorado District 7 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Brittany Pettersen | 100.0 | 71,497 |
| Total votes: 71,497 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Kyle Faust (D)
- Julius Mopper (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Colorado District 7
Erik Aadland defeated Tim Reichert and Laurel Imer in the Republican primary for U.S. House Colorado District 7 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Erik Aadland | 47.9 | 43,469 |
| Tim Reichert | 35.9 | 32,583 | ||
 | Laurel Imer | 16.2 | 14,665 | |
| Total votes: 90,717 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Brad Dempsey (R)
- Carl Andersen (R)
Endorsements
To view Aadland's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.
U.S. Senate
See also: United States Senate election in Colorado, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Colorado
The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Colorado on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Michael Bennet (D) | 55.9 | 1,397,170 |
 | Joe O'Dea (R) | 41.3 | 1,031,693 | |
 | Brian Peotter (L) | 1.7 | 43,534 | |
 | T.J. Cole (Unity Party) | 0.7 | 16,379 | |
 | Frank Atwood (Approval Voting Party) | 0.5 | 11,354 | |
| Tom Harvey (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 29 | ||
| Joanne Rock (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 25 | ||
| John Rutledge (L) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 9 | ||
| Robert Messman (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 8 | ||
| Total votes: 2,500,201 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Aaron Trevino (Independent)
- Teal'c Anderson (Freedom Party Party)
- Aaron Pehrson (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Colorado
Incumbent Michael Bennet advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Colorado on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Bennet | 100.0 | 516,985 |
| Total votes: 516,985 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Dan Chapin (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Colorado
Joe O'Dea defeated Ron Hanks and Daniel Hendricks in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Colorado on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joe O'Dea | 54.4 | 345,060 |
 | Ron Hanks | 45.5 | 288,483 | |
 | Daniel Hendricks (Write-in) | 0.0 | 302 | |
| Total votes: 633,845 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Gino Campana (R)
- Juli Henry (R)
- Erik Aadland (R)
- Eli Bremer (R)
- Gregory Moore (R)
- Deborah Flora (R)
- Peter Yu (R)
Approval Voting Party convention
Approval Voting Party convention for U.S. Senate Colorado
Frank Atwood advanced from the Approval Voting Party convention for U.S. Senate Colorado on March 26, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Frank Atwood (Approval Voting Party) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Erik Aadland completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Aaland's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Hyper-partisanship currently plagues our politics. But at one time, selecting our representatives was instead about the character and wisdom of the person.
My character was forged at West Point and tested on the battlefield. As your Congressman, I will exercise the same courage and integrity that I did in theater. I will ably represent the people of Colorado, resisting the corrupting influences of Washington’s career politicians and unelected bureaucrats. I know my job is to represent everyone in our community, regardless of whether they view things differently than I do.
As a servant leader, I agree with President John F. Kennedy’s wise words: “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the right answer.” I will work with people of all parties to make government a more efficient, better servant of all our hopes and dreams and to preserve the majesty and spirit of Colorado for future generations.- The Economy: I will fight to restore affordability and opportunity by reducing spending, lowering, taxes, and enacting smart regulations.
- Public Safety: I will advocate for Congress to recommit to public safety. This starts with securing our southern border and stopping the flow of deadly Chinese-manufactured fentanyl into our communities. In addition, we must deal with out-of-control crime by restoring respect for law enforcement and ending all attempts to defund the police.
- Sustainable Energy Independence: Wise use of existing sources of energy, coupled with well-researched, market-proven emerging technologies, will enhance lifestyles for everyone while preserving our planet for future generations.
In particular, two of the public policy solutions that I intend to pursue in Congress are (a) a balanced budget and (b) choice for parents in their children’s education. Both of these policy areas deal directly with creating opportunity for our citizens in the future, giving them capacity and liberty to reach their potential.
By establishing term limits for U.S. Representatives and Senators, we curtail the massive advantage afforded incumbents and make elections more competitive; this leads to a more substantive exchange of ideas for better governance. A limited time in office is also conducive to the idea of citizen legislators who do not regard politics as a career, as it removes some of the incentives or temptations to turn away from representing the people in favor of personal agendas or special interests.
That accident in this young man’s life is no accident at all on the scale of public policy. Hearing this story has left me more convicted than ever that we must recommit to public safety, including the securing of our southern border by which deadly Chinese-manufactured fentanyl has entered our country in horrifically large quantities.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Aadland's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Protecting the Rights of the Individual Elected officials have a duty to protect the people from government overreach, as specified by their oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution. Recently (and perhaps for longer than we care to admit), our personal freedoms have been eroded. Bureaucrats and politicians are seeking power for their own aggrandizement rather than serving the people. Furthermore, the Constitution is never suspended, regardless of the emergency; otherwise, we create a pretext for continued abuse of government power. Therefore, I will protect the rights of the individual as laid out in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I will not support any legislation that violates the Constitution or extends the reach of the government at the expense of the individual.
Robust constituent services are the hallmark of a capable Congressperson. I understand that it is an honor and a privilege to serve all the constituents of this district, regardless of their political opinion or affiliation. We are all Coloradans and Americans, each of us deserving of compassionate and comprehensive attention to our problems. As a servant leader, I believe in the words of President John F. Kennedy: “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the right answer.” I pledge that my staff and I will always do the utmost to resolve any constituent’s issue, via the powers of my office or by connection to any other resources necessary. In fact, we are more than willing to get a head start on addressing your concerns. If you need our help, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Money is a form of energy. My aim is to empower people by keeping money in their own pockets. Radical big government policies are throttling the economy and de-incentivizing people from working. Furthermore, such policies disempower people by making them dependent on the government. Many of our economic woes are due to the destruction of opportunity. Instead, we need to create opportunity by energizing the economy. We need smart regulations and trade deals that put American jobs first while protecting the environment and private citizens as well. Government spending must be carefully stewarded, with a consistent view towards reducing cost. Money should be judiciously spent to benefit Americans first. We should not be printing more money to make up for gross incompetence or corruption, nor should we be sending significant funds overseas without cleaning up our own house first.
Oil and Natural Gas is one of the most significant contributors to the Colorado economy. It employs thousands of high paying jobs, many of which are with small businesses. The Oil and Natural Gas industry contributes significant funds to open space preservation around the state. When Federal policies strangle domestic energy production, the impact of those limitations is reflected in the price of gasoline at the pump. As a Congressman, I will advocate for balanced energy policy that meets demand and encourages innovation while protecting our environment.
I am always shocked that people will vote for a candidate who has a track record of putting other countries before our own. Putting another country’s welfare before our own is unconscionable and far outside the duties of an elected official. It should not be tolerated. Our government officials are elected to serve the American people first. This does not mean harming another country or putting the welfare of the global community last. In fact, good governance that empowers the United States and her citizens benefits all countries. I will always put Colorado and our country first.
In the Army, I was honored to serve with a diverse range of brave men and women who worked closely together to accomplish the toughest missions. In combat, we did not care about our fellow servicemembers’ skin color, faith, or sexual orientation. What we cared about was whether that person had our back—and that comes down to character, not superficial differences. I am blessed to have worked with multicultural teams all over the world in both my military and private sector careers. That is why I understand the benefit of contributions from people with many different perspectives and backgrounds. I will stand against discrimination of any kind. I know that all human beings possess the same intrinsic value, dignity, and potential. For me, it is all about the “content of one’s character.”
I want every child (and adult) to have the best education possible. We must empower our educators to bring creativity and ingenuity into the classroom, rather than suffocating them with oppressive bureaucracy. I believe in an educational system that empowers the individual and teaches critical thinking, and one that fosters more kindness for others as well as love for this country. Education must be grounded in solid psychological principles. Harmony, kindness, love, and respect only exist in environments where the individual feels secure. (Public school systems currently do little to foster such personal security). I will stand for an educational environment that focuses on character and merit rather than superficial differences. I will advocate for education that develops wisdom and personal responsibility rather than a victim mentality. I am against any curricula which distorts America’s history. I support School Choice.
I want every Coloradan to have access to superb healthcare. We want the best doctors and practitioners to flock to Colorado. For that, we need a competitive health care system that is both affordable and efficient. Unfortunately, we cannot rely on the government to create this outcome—their interventions are not affordable, efficient, or well-planned. Thus, we need to reform health care by removing present drains on the system, as well as increasing competition within the marketplace to drive down costs.
I love the state of Colorado with all its natural beauty and grandeur. I will protect Colorado’s lakes, rivers, and streams, land, and air. We must effectively manage our forests so that we do not have to fear destructive wildfires. We can protect the environment with smart regulations without throttling industry and productivity.
Water is the lifeblood of the planet, our country, and our state. We must protect this precious resource and manage it effectively. In seeking solutions to balance supply, demand, and conservation, I plan to draw on my experiences working in Israel. Israel is an extremely arid country that has nonetheless demonstrated how to preserve water resources with ingenuity and without onerous government involvement. I believe we can do the same here in Colorado.
Carbon Dioxide or CO2 emissions in the United States are down significantly in the last three decades. Fossil fuels such as Natural Gas provide clean energy, orders of magnitude more efficient and less harmful to the environment than many so-called renewables. The earth has generously provided these organic compounds in abundance, and we should use them wisely while using our creativity and ingenuity to find ways to healthfully utilize them while exploring efficient alternatives that can stand alone without government subsidies.
Adverse impacts on our environment are of great concern to me for several reasons:
The Earth is our home, the only one we have to sustain us and future generations. We must protect it through wise stewardship of our natural resources. Preserving the environment in balance with equal opportunities and a high standard of living is one of our foremost responsibilities as a society. I will advocate for smart, balanced regulations that safeguard our nation’s natural resources and diverse environment while enabling industry to thrive and the private sector empowered to innovate and solve problems.
Agriculture, along with energy production, is the lifeblood of Colorado’s economy and we must protect the industry. Radical big government policies are threatening to destroy the agricultural sector here, predicated only on the desire for power and backed by spurious science. The proposed policies, such as dictating the length of time livestock must live before being harvested, are unconstitutional and overbearing; furthermore, such dictates will destroy the agricultural industry in Colorado, jeopardizing many jobs and likely raising the cost of food in our communities. I will oppose the expansion of these policies at the federal level. We must seek balance between protecting the environment and supporting an industry which provides jobs and feeds the world.
We are very fortunate to live in a beautiful state which attracts people from all over the country and the world. We must keep our state beautiful and support small businesses which thrive on tourism and outdoor recreation. We want everyone who visits Colorado to leave knowing this is the most spectacular state in the Union.
Like President Reagan, President Trump demonstrated that strength and the judicious, precise use of force leads to sustained peace. The American military should not be the World Police Force, though a global presence is necessary at times to dissuade bad actors. War should always be a last resort. Peace through strength is my guiding foreign policy principle.
Law enforcement exists to serve and protect the people, not to simply enforce laws. We need to restore the respect and integrity of our police forces and restore the American people’s trust in police. We must also resource law enforcement to keep American citizens safe. Violent crimes should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
It is the Federal government’s responsibility to keep our country secure from external threats. Among other things, this national security mandate includes the maintenance of secure borders with effective processes to manage legal immigration. Those attempting to enter our country illegally are not bad people. They are simply seeking a better life with greater opportunities for their families. We must treat them with compassion. However, the solution is not to rob resources from the American people to attempt to help the entire world. This only limits our opportunities at home and gives false hope to immigrants. We must first provide Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness to all Americans; then we can help other countries transition to the economic and political freedoms that create (rather than destroy) opportunity. Our country represents a phenomenal opportunity to become one’s best self. Let us not destroy the reasons people are trying so hard to get here.
As a father of three children, I am Pro Life. As a Congressman, I will take a stand against any federal funding of abortion.
Election integrity is a non-partisan issue. In recent years we have seen concerns raised on both sides of the aisle, and we must address them. It is essential that a Republic have secure elections where each vote counts equally and none are cast fraudulently. Voter ID is a must and not an onerous requirement (a person needs an ID for nearly everything else). We must also make our elections efficient for all so that everyone may vote without hindrances. I am also against abolishing the electoral college, as a pure democracy disenfranchises political minorities and equates to mob rule.
Everyone has an inherent, unalienable right to defend themselves. And we know criminals will always find a way to possess guns. Yet, there are those who want to completely disarm our society while they simultaneously move to defund law enforcement. We must not only ask why but refuse to give up our ability to defend ourselves. The facts speak for themselves–firearm ownership is proven to deter crime. I will stand resolutely for our right to bear arms. Colorado has a spirit of independence and self-governance, and the Second Amendment is a key component of maintaining our individual freedoms.
I have spent extensive time working in Israel and have many dear friends, Jewish and Muslim, living in this amazing country. It is a first-world, beautiful nation where Jews and Muslims coexist peacefully. It is a model for the rest of the Middle East. Israel is our ally and we will protect her from nations openly trying to destroy her. The Abraham Accords demonstrated how peace may be made and sustained between Israel and neighbors.[2] |
” |
| —Erik Aadland's campaign website (2022)[3] | ||
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 10, 2022
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Erik Aadland for Congress, “Positions,” accessed August 29, 2022
