Ron Erhardt | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 49A district 42B (1991–1993), 42A (1993–2003), 41A (2003–2009) | |
| In office January 8, 2013 – January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Keith Downey |
| Succeeded by | Dario Anselmo |
| In office January 8, 1991 – January 6, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Mary Forsythe |
| Succeeded by | Keith Downey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 23, 1929 Minnesota |
| Political party | Democratic-Farmer-Labor (2010–present) Republican Party (until 2008) |
| Spouse | Jackie (until 2001, her death) |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota |
| Occupation | financial planner |
Ron Erhardt (born October 23, 1929) is a politician from the U.S. state of Minnesota and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He represented District 49A, which included most of Edina in Hennepin County.
Erhardt is a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) and was re-endorsed by the DFL for re-election in 2016. Until July 2008, Erhardt was a Republican and was endorsed by the Republican Party of Minnesota. For nine successive terms, he earned election victories, even when other Republicans did poorly. In 2006, he won with 59.5%.[1] However, over time his district, then numbered District 41A, went from Republican-leaning to becoming more of a swing district, with candidates of both major parties succeeding in the same elections. Illustrated by the district supporting Democrats John Kerry in the 2004 election[2] and Amy Klobuchar for US Senate in 2006 while at the same time voting strongly for Republicans such as then Congressman Jim Ramstad and the current Congressman Erik Paulsen, as well as State Representative Ron Erhardt, who won as an endorsed Republican in those same 2004 and 2006 elections with a 60% plurality.
In the 2016 election, Erhardt was defeated by Republican Dario Anselmo.