Rep. Sondra Erickson won’t seek a 13th House term in November

Rep. Sondra Erickson (R-Princeton), a prominent lawmaker on education policy issues, announced Wednesday morning she will not seek re-election this November.

First elected in 1998, Erickson is currently serving her 12th non-consecutive term in the House. In her more than 20 years in the Legislature, Erickson served three bienniums as chair of the House Education Policy Committee. She has also chaired the House Ethics Committee.

“It has been the opportunity of a lifetime to represent our area in the state legislature and I thank the citizens of District 15A for putting their trust in me to serve them and their families in St. Paul,” Erickson said in a statement.

[MORE Watch a 2020 member interview with Rep. Erickson]

Erickson’s district represents all of Mille Lacs County and portions of Kanabec and Sherburne Counties. Under Minnesota’s new legislative maps released last week, Erickson — a retired English teacher — had been paired in the same House district with her former student, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R-Crown).

Daudt has announced he will seek re-election in 2022.

Erickson’s legislative accomplishments include leading a push to reform Minnesota’s teacher licensure process, teacher education reform and helping secure economic relief for Lake Mille Lacs-area businesses when state officials closed the lake to walleye anglers in 2015.

“Thank you to everyone that offered their support during my many years in public service,” Erickson said. “I look forward to spending more time with my family and friends as I step away from public office.”