Erik Severson

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.

Erik Severson M.D.
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	(1974-02-03) February 3, 1974 (age 51) Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Katie Otto
Children	3
Residence	Alden, Wisconsin
Alma mater	University of Minnesota Duluth Mayo Medical School (M.D.)
Profession	Physician, politician
Website	Campaign website

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)