Eric R. Pratt

Republican | Minnesota

Candidate Profile*

Conservative

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Eric R. Pratt


Party

Republican


Election Year

2022


Election

General


Race

State Senator, Dist. 54


Incumbent

Yes


Links

Eric R. Pratt websitesEric R. Pratt phones
Eric R. Pratt email
FacebookXInstagramLinkedIn

EDUCATION

Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO, Economics

Univ of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, MBA

WORK & MILITARY

(Candidate did not provide)

AFFILIATIONS

St. Gertrudes/ Benedictine Health, Board Director, Prior Lake Rotary

Member, Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board, Director, volunteer

City of Prior Lake, Strategic Planning Committee

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

MN Sente Dist 55, 2013-2022

Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board, 2000-2012

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

(Candidate did not provide)

Race

Previous Races

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (3)

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Minnesota

*Patriot Parents

LIBERAL (1)

*International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 49

OTHER (2)

*Minnesota Farm Bureau PAC

*IBEW Local 110

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)

MN Police & Peace Officers

Minnesotans for Health and Parental Rights

MN Young Republicans Victory Fund

Minnesotans for Affordable Health Insurance

National Federation of Business (NFIB) MN PAC

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (6)

Freedom Club (2016)

John Kline (2013)

Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2020)

Senate Victory Fund SVF (2020)

State Republican Party Organizations (2022)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)

David Osmek (2022)

National Federation of Independent Business (2019)

Tom Emmer (2012)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (8)

Dorsey Political Fund (2019)

International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (2021)

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (2021)

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (2022)

North Star SFAA (2015)

OTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

Health of mother, rape and incest

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Agree

Healthcare funds should not be directed to specific organizations. I am opposed to taxpayers' money being used to fund abortion.

I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Disagree

We recently went through hospice care for a relative, and they were kept comfortable. I am afraid assisted euthanasia could be abused


ECONOMY

What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?

Minnesota is among the highest taxed states. I favor a flat-tax rate with fewer exemptions

What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?

Minnesota has a large surplus. We have an overtaxing and don't need to cut spending

Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.

Disagree

Many jobs do not require a college education. Additionally, guaranteed college would not encourage the cost-controls needed in higher education institutions to be more competitive. I have also worked to expand apprenticeships as an alternative to college


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Disagree

I believe in religious liberty, but also am opposed to discrimination. A business owner should be allowed to deny services when those services are specifically for the activity they are opposed to.

Under what circumstances can government close churches?

I can't think of one...never. I believe churches and individuals should have made decisions based on their own risk assessment


HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.

C

Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?

Schools already require vaccines with allowable exemptions, and state law includes conscientious objection as an allowable exemption. I support a similar structure for businesses. The Government should never mandate vaccinations


NATIONAL SECURITY

What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?

Did not answer

I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.

Disagree


IMMIGRATION

The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.

Strongly Disagree

Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

Anyone who can immigrate to the United States under our current laws, not including false claims of asylum, is welcome.


EDUCATION

I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.

Agree

I support public schools and school choice. The generic public setting may not be right for every student, and school choice should not be an option available only to families with means. During my time on the school board, I found competition made our programs better.


VALUES

Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.

Agree

I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.

Neutral

I don't support any form of discrimination. I would prefer no protected classes, everyone is treated equally with the same protections under the law.

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition

Agree

I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.

Strongly Disagree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I am a Christian


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?

I support Voter ID and provisional ballots under certain circumstances. I believe we should encourage everyone to vote without barriers but must also ensure integrity in the system. Having 10 years of professional experience in fraud detection and avoidance, fraud is hard to identify once it has occurred and it's always better to devise prevention strategies


EQUALITY

Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?

Yes. The focus on our differences has caused us to become more divided. Neither racism nor reverse discrimination should be tolerated, we all have equal protection under the law.

Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.

Disagree


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.

A. We need a balance that assesses the trade-offs and risk

I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.

Agree

Energy independence is crucial


ABOUT YOU

What do you think is the general purpose of government?

To protect individual rights and create a level playing field for competition in a capitalistic economic system

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Conservative

Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).

Did not answer

Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.

No

What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?

Did not answer


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.

Strongly Agree

I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.

Strongly Disagree


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

Did not answer

Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.

Disagree

If you are not already receiving our emails, stay up to date with important election alerts, educational articles, and encouraging reminders.

I agree to receive text messages at the phone number provided.