The Constitution belongs to all of us.
The Constitution defines how power is supposed to work in America and guarantees the rights and freedoms of every citizen.
It is not a partisan document. It belongs to all of us.
One of the reasons Erik decided to run for Congress is his growing concern that constitutional norms are being weakened — not just in theory, but in practice. Across Western Minnesota, voters have raised the same concern. They feel that power has become too concentrated, that Congress has given up too much of its authority, and that too many people in Washington are willing to ignore the rules when the rules get in their way.
That is not how the Constitution was written to work.
Article I establishes Congress as the first branch of government. That was not an accident. The founders put Congress first because the people’s representatives — not a president, not a bureaucracy, and not party insiders — are supposed to make laws, control spending, conduct oversight, and check the other branches.
Restoring that balance is not a Democratic idea or a Republican idea.
It is an American one.
Erik’s Priorities
Erik will fight to:
- Restore checks and balances between the branches of government
- Reclaim Congress’s authority over spending, tariffs, and oversight
- Defend the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution
- Protect due process and equal protection under the law
- Protect fair elections and the right of every eligible citizen to vote
- Oppose efforts by any branch, party, or president to concentrate power beyond what the Constitution allows
- Bring accountability, decency, and respect for the rule of law back to public service
…by sending a representative to Washington who respects the Constitution, understands the job Congress is supposed to do, and will fight to restore checks and balances so no president, no party, and no special interest can govern without accountability to the people.
Congressional Authority & Checks and Balances
Article I, Section 8: Powers of Congress
The Constitution gives Congress — not the president alone — the power to tax, spend, regulate commerce, and make laws.
That matters for Western Minnesota.
Trade policy affects farmers. Spending decisions affect schools, hospitals, roads, seniors, veterans, and working families. Oversight determines whether agencies and administrations are held accountable when they overreach or fail to do their jobs.
In recent years, Congress has allowed too much power to drift toward the executive branch across multiple administrations. Erik believes Congress must reclaim its constitutional role.
Tariffs, spending, and major policy decisions should go through the people’s representatives — not be decided unilaterally without meaningful oversight.
Fair Representation
Article I, Section 2: Apportionment
The Constitution requires a census and fair apportionment of congressional representation.
That may sound technical, but it has real consequences. Apportionment determines how communities are represented in Congress and how political power is distributed.
Any manipulation of this process weakens the voice of real communities.
Western Minnesota should have fair representation and a real voice in the decisions that affect its future.
Presidential Term Limits
Twenty-Second Amendment: Presidential Term Limits
The two-term limit on the presidency exists for a reason.
No one person should hold executive power indefinitely. Erik believes the Twenty-Second Amendment must be respected and defended. Full stop.
The peaceful transfer of power and the limits placed on every officeholder are part of what keep this country free.
First Amendment Freedoms
First Amendment: Speech, Press, Religion, Assembly & Petition
The First Amendment protects the freedoms that make self-government possible.
The right to speak. The right to worship freely. The right to a free press. The right to assemble peacefully. The right to petition the government.
These rights are not optional. A free press helps hold the powerful accountable. Peaceful protest lets people make their voices heard. Religious liberty protects every person’s right to practice their faith without government interference.
Erik will defend these freedoms no matter who is in power.
Privacy and Protection from Government Overreach
Fourth Amendment: Protection from Unreasonable Search and Seizure
The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable government searches and seizures.
That principle matters even more as technology changes. Government surveillance, data collection, and new enforcement tools have raised serious questions about the line between security and privacy.
Erik believes Americans should not have to choose between safety and their constitutional right to be free from unreasonable government intrusion.
Due Process
Fifth Amendment: Due Process
The Fifth Amendment says no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
That protection is not just a legal phrase. It is a basic promise: the government cannot take away your freedom, your property, or your rights without a fair legal process.
Erik believes due process must apply consistently and fairly. No administration, agency, or official should be able to bypass the law because it is inconvenient.
Citizenship and Equal Protection
Fourteenth Amendment, Section 1: Citizenship, Due Process & Equal Protection
The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees citizenship, due process, and equal protection under the law.
These protections are the legal backbone of civil rights in America.
Erik will stand against efforts to undermine birthright citizenship, weaken equal protection, or create a two-tiered system where some people receive fewer rights under the law than others.
The Constitution’s protections should mean what they say.
Voting Rights
Fifteenth Amendment: Right to Vote Regardless of Race
The Fifteenth Amendment says the right to vote cannot be denied or abridged because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
That guarantee still matters.
Erik will oppose voter suppression tactics that make it harder for eligible citizens to cast a ballot and have that ballot counted.
Every eligible voter should have a fair, equal, and straightforward path to participate in our elections.
Women’s Right to Vote
Nineteenth Amendment: Women’s Right to Vote
The Nineteenth Amendment protects the right to vote regardless of sex.
Erik believes election laws should protect access for every eligible voter, including voters whose names or documents may have changed because of marriage, divorce, adoption, or other life circumstances.
No eligible voter should be pushed out of the process by unnecessary barriers or confusing requirements.
Young Voters
Twenty-Sixth Amendment: Right to Vote at Age 18
If you are old enough to serve in the military, you are old enough to vote.
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment protects the right of citizens 18 and older to vote. Erik believes young voters should be encouraged to participate, not discouraged by barriers that make voting harder.
Our democracy is stronger when more eligible citizens take part.
Erik Wants to Hear From You
Defending the Constitution means more than quoting it.
It means respecting its limits, protecting its freedoms, restoring checks and balances, and remembering that public office belongs to the people.
Have thoughts on this issue? Erik wants to hear from you.