Erik Severson
Erik Severson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 28th district | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Ann Hraychuck |
| Succeeded by | Adam Jarchow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 3, 1974 Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Katie Otto |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Alden, Wisconsin |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | Physician, politician |
| Website | Campaign website |
Erik Arlen Severson (born February 3, 1974) is an American physician and Republican politician from Polk County, Wisconsin. He served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 28th Assembly district from 2011 to 2015. He is a candidate for Wisconsin's 25th Senate district in the 2026 election.
Early life and education
Erik Severson was born in Duluth, Minnesota, and raised in the Duluth area, graduating from Esko High School in 1992.[1] He took college courses while attending high school and earned his bachelor's degree early from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1993. He went on to study at Mayo Medical School, and earned his medical doctorate in 2002. After obtaining his M.D., he took an internship at the University of North Dakota, then worked a family medicine residency at the University of Minnesota.[1]
He was employed as a family medicine physician at Osceola Medical Center in Osceola, Wisconsin, in 2005. He has remained with Osceola Medical Center up to the present time, working in family and emergency medicine.[2]
Political career
Severson made his first run for public office in 2010, running as a Republican for Wisconsin State Assembly in the 28th Assembly district. At the time, the 28th district comprised most of Polk County, as well as parts of northwest St. Croix County and southwest Burnett County. Severson received 57% of the vote in the Republican wave election, defeating Democratic incumbent Ann Hraychuck.[3] He was re-elected by a similar margin in 2012.[4]
During his two terms in the Assembly, Severson served on the Assembly committee on health, and was chairman of the committee during the 2013–2014 term. During that term, he also chaired the speaker's special taskforce on mental health.[1] In the latter capacity, he helped to author a series of bipartisan proposals to increase mental health resources in response to recent mass shootings in the United States—and, in particular, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting of December 2012.[5]
In the spring of 2014, Severson announced he would not run for a third term.[6]
Severson largely stayed out of political affairs for the next decade, until the fall of 2025, when he announced that he would seek election to the Wisconsin Senate in 2026 in the 25th Senate district. The incumbent in the seat is Republican state senator Romaine Quinn, but it will be an open seat in 2026 due to Quinn's decision to run instead in the neighboring 23rd district after the 2024 redistricting.[7] Severson faces a competitive primary election against former state representative Angie Sapik. Sapik, who served as a Republican presidential elector in 2024, is more closely aligned with the current leadership of the Wisconsin Republican Party, whereas Severson's messaging refers back to the actions and policies that he was a part of during the Scott Walker years.[8]
Personal life and family
Severson and his wife, Katie, have three children and reside in the town of Alden, Wisconsin.[9]
Electoral history
Wisconsin Assembly (2010, 2012)
| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | General[3] | Nov. 2 | Erik Severson | Republican | 11,770 | 57.65% | Ann Hraychuck (inc) | Dem. | 8,634 | 42.29% | 20,415 | 3,136 |
| 2012 | General[4] | Nov. 6 | Erik Severson (inc) | Republican | 15,865 | 56.18% | Adam T. Bever | Dem. | 12,347 | 43.72% | 28,241 | 3,518 |
Wisconsin Senate (2026)
References
- ^ a b c "Representative Erik Severson". Wisconsin Legislature. 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
- ^ "Erik Severson, MD - Emergency Medicine". Osceola Medical Center. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
- ^ a b Canvass Results for 2010 General Election - 11/2/2010 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 8, 2010. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
- ^ a b Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 26, 2012. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
- ^ Bauer, Scott (January 9, 2014). "Mental health bills clear legislative hurdle". Oshkosh Northwestern. p. A3. Retrieved November 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Severson won't seek new term". The Post-Crescent. April 8, 2014. p. A2. Retrieved November 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Former state representative announces Wisconsin 25th Senate District campaign". WDIO-DT. October 17, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
- ^ Nelson, Shelley (October 22, 2025). "Two GOP candidates vie for Wisconsin Senate". Superior Telegram. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
- ^ "Meet Erik Severson". Erik Severson for Wisconsin State Senate. Retrieved November 11, 2025.