Kerry Zeiler

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Kerry Zeiler

Republican Party

Education

Law

Western State College of Law at Argosy University, 2004-05

Personal

Religion

Christian

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Kerry Zeiler (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District. He did not appear on the ballot for the Republican primary on August 11, 2020.

Zeiler completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Kerry Zeiler was born in Great Lakes, Illinois. He attended California Polytechnic University and California State University, and earned a law degree from Western State College of Law in 2004. Zeiler’s career experience includes working as a private investigator and an attorney.

Elections

2020

See also: Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020

Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 11 Republican primary)

Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 11 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Minnesota District 2

Incumbent Angie Craig defeated Tyler Kistner and Adam Weeks (Unofficially withdrew) in the general election for U.S. House Minnesota District 2 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Angie Craig (D)	48.2	204,534
		Tyler Kistner (R)	45.9	194,954
	Submit photo	Adam Weeks (Legal Marijuana Now Party) (Unofficially withdrew)	5.8	24,751
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	273

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 424,512
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Angie Craig advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 2.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Tyler Kistner advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 2.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Regina Barr (R)
• Edward Moritz (R)
• Kerry Zeiler (R)
• Rick Olson (R)
• Erika Cashin (R)

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election

The Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election was canceled. Adam Weeks advanced from the Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for U.S. House Minnesota District 2.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Kerry Zeiler completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Zeiler's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a married father of five. I come from a military family. My dad was a veteran. My brother is a veteran. My best friend passed away due to injuries he suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am a small businessman and an attorney, and an advocate for the average American ... for my friends and neighbors who are injured, who run small businesses, for lawful immigrants and for the disabled.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• End the Hyper-Partisanship. It is imperative that we be able to talk to each other. Hyper-partisanship is real, and ending it will take leadership. I will lead the effort to restore civility to our political discourse.
• Restore Truth & Integrity to Our Institutions. The Inspector General's reports have been resounding. I will fight to end deceit and partisanship in our law enforcement institutions. These should never be weaponized for political purposes.
• Restore Trust in the Press. Lax standards, fact-checking failures, deliberate misinformation, foreign interference and abandonment of journalistic standards has the American people infuriated with the media. I will propose professional licensing for the news to restore confidence in this critical pillar of our national identity, and enforce journalistic standards.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Corruption. I am passionate about rooting out corruption in our institutions. FBI agents lying to the FISA court to unlawfully surveil U.S. citizens cannot be permitted. Decisive change is needed to address this breakdown.

Weaponizing Law Enforcement. Weaponizing law enforcement for political purposes must never be permitted. I will fight to ensure this does not happen to any U.S. citizen.

The Student Loan Crisis. This vast problem cannot be ignored, with over $1.53 trillion in accumulated debt and over 1.1 million defaulting on their loans. Decisive action is needed; I propose and endorse having educational institutions guarantee federally backed student loans issued to their students. The American people need not shoulder the risks taken to enrich colleges and universities.

Nationwide Injunctions. I agree with Justice Gorsuch that trial judges, unfortunately, hand these out like party favors when they otherwise lack jurisdiction to do so. Relying on trial judges to reign themselves in is not working. I propose making a petition for a nationwide injunction and original petition to the U.S. Supreme Court. They will hear the most serious and dispense with the rest.

Legalizing Cannabis. I support decriminalizing cannabis. At the very least, the federal government should not prevent Americans from air travel with their medicine, and nor should they be subject to arrest if they travel to a state where it is not legalized. Common sense is needed here.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Andrew Jackson, for his conviction to oppose corruption and elitism on behalf of the common American;

Abraham Lincoln, for his enormous resilience in the face of crushing pressure and opposition;
Martin Luther King, for his amazing achievements through non-violent protests and sticking to his convictions;
Ronald Reagan, for sticking to his convictions despite a hostile press and government;
Donald Trump, for accomplishing what he has achieved despite extraordinary hyper-partisanship and hostility.

Each of these men had flaws, some glaring looking through the lens of today, but all of them achieved remarkable things despite extraordinary diversity.

Lastly, my dad, who served in our military during Vietnam until 1989, and worked two other jobs while being full time in the military to make sure his family was provided for. He taught me my love of baseball, the enjoyment of watching others achieve without envy, the importance of my family, compassion for my fellow man, patriotism and my pragmatic optimism.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

It is important that you have convictions, that you stick to them, that you're honest and do not intentionally deceive those whom you serve. You must be diligent in all of your efforts, and a fateful custodian of the trust and wealth of your constituents.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I believe I will make a successful officeholder because my candidacy has appeal to people of all political bents.

I stand by my convictions and believe one must have a strength of character. I am a zealous advocate for those in need, and for my neighbors and friends.

I can work toward a common goal even with those whose opinions may differ from mine. Respectful, reasoned discourse must be the hallmark of leadership in the House - where there are 435 members, each with his/her own viewpoint and own constituents to represent.

I work tremendously well under pressure and am well educated, compassionate, kind and friendly. I love my family, my wife, my children my country. I'm also a good listener and can distill complex issues to simple components.

I do not shy away from controversy, but also am unwilling to change my positions just to tell people what they want to hear.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To carry out your duties for the benefit of your constituents. Representatives must always do their best to advocate on behalf of their constituents; that is the very essence of the job.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I'm pragmatic: may I leave the world a better place to live for my children and their children then when I lived.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was a child living in the Panama Canal Zone when Jimmy Carter turned operational authority over to the people of Panama. I was living in Panama during the Contra / Sandinista War in the 1980's.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a licensed private investigator for 13 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I liked the Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan (who has now passed on.) The rich, engaging world in which his characters strode was brought to life in the pages of those books (my favorite being A Shadow Rising.)

I also enjoy S.M. Stirling's alternate history books and Harry Turtledove's "WorldWar" series. I appreciate the depth of historical reference and the concepts of alternate history ... where just a few changes in decisions by a few people can have such a dramatic impact on history.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Toss a Coin To Your Witcher.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have a blended family, and five wonderful children. Four are adults and either away at college, married, or otherwise on their own. The youngest child has Down Syndrome and Autism and lives with me.

Balancing everyone's needs in a blended family for 10-years has been a struggle.

The death of my best friend in 2018 was particularly difficult. He served in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps throughout his career. He died before the Space Force was created; I think he would have been eager to sign up for that. In life, he struggled with his injuries, with memory loss, depression and the psychological effects of survivor's guilt.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

It is important that representatives have a working knowledge of their government, but no ... there is no requirement or even a need for someone serving in the House of Representatives to have previous political experience. In truth, it is likely better if representatives be concerned and motivated citizens. A legal background is not critical, but is certainly going to be extremely helpful; the business of the House is passing legislation (laws), after all.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Internally, the divisiveness of our political discourse requires decisive leadership. If no one makes a move to change things, nothing will ever change.

We must get a handle on deficit spending, stop the political weaponizing of our law enforcement and tax agencies by the party who happens to hold temporary power and restore the faith of the American people in our institutions, our form of government, and in the press. We do not need "leaders" throwing temper tantrums and tearing up speeches out of pique and hatred.

Alarmism should never be a national policy. We need to address crushing Student Loan debt which is going hand to hand with a rapid decline in the quality of education. This cannot continue.

We are a compassionate people, and cannot embrace policies that abandon the least capable of defending themselves, the disabled, and the elderly. We must have a common sense to health care ... which is not synonymous with "health insurance," and require drug companies to adhere to a single published price for their product regardless of to whom it is sold and be transparent with the costs of health care. Allowing competition across state lines will greatly reduce the costs of healthcare.

The government should never be bailing out failing businesses. Let failed businesses die due to their mismanagement without being "rescued" by taxpayer dollars.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I am moved by the cancer patient who cannot take his medication with him when he travels to see his family because it is cannabis; the prideful farmer forced into accepting government aid despite a fierce sense of self-reliance; the mother of a special needs child who fears that Republicans will take away her child's services (I pledged this would never happen on my watch.)

I'm moved by the wounded veteran's family struggling with him as he alternates between fears, self-doubt, anger, and hope. We must never abandon our veterans.

I'm moved by the aging man who has been ostracized from his family except for his daughter, and then she passed away ... leaving him bereft of family.

I'm especially moved by the family that makes just too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough money to pay for any health care for themselves. They dream of being able to send their children to college someday. Their two children qualified themselves for government-provided health care. Our citizens should not be punished for being poor and struggling to make ends meet.

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.

See also

2020 Elections

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Government

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Footnotes

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Minnesota's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Amy Klobuchar (D)

Tina Smith (D)

Representatives

District 1

Brad Finstad (R)

District 2

Angie Craig (D)

District 3

Kelly Morrison (D)

District 4

Betty McCollum (D)

District 5

Ilhan Omar (D)

District 6

Tom Emmer (R)

District 7

Michelle Fischbach (R)

District 8

Pete Stauber (R)

Democratic Party (6)

Republican Party (4)