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 the Republican nominee 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. 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.
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.
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. He was re-elected by a similar margin in 2012.
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. 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.
In the spring of 2014, Severson announced he would not run for a third term.
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. Severson faced a competitive primary election against former state representative Angie Sapik. Sapik, who served as a Republican presidential elector in 2024, was 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. Severson defeated Sapik on the August 11th primary, 54%-46% by a margin of just under 2,000 votes. He faces Democrat Charly Ray in the November general election, in a race that could likely decide control of the Wisconsin State Senate.
Personal life and family Severson and his wife, Katie, have three children and reside in the town of Alden, Wisconsin.
Electoral history Wisconsin Assembly (2010, 2012) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 2010 General Republican 11,770 57.65% Dem. 8,634 42.29% 20,415 3,136 2012 General Republican 15,865 56.18% Dem. 12,347 43.72% 28,241 3,518
Wisconsin Senate (2026) YearElectionDateElectedDefeatedTotalPlurality2026PrimaryRepublican13,22053.88%Rep.11,30246.06%24,5361,918
References
External links
Campaign website (State Senate, current) Campaign website (State Assembly, archived Feb. 2011) Representative Erik Severson (2013) at Wisconsin Legislature