Erik Peterson
Republican | New Jersey
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
Erik Peterson
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 7
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
North Carolina State U, Raleigh, BS, 1988
Temple U. School of Law, Philadelphia, JD, 1996
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Pedals for Progress, Past Board Member, Hunterdon County United Way
Past Board Member, Milford Lions Club, Member
Knights of Columbus, Member, Hunterdon County Young Republicans
Past President
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Hunterdon County Freeholder, 2006-2009
NJ General Assembly, 2009-Present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2018-19
A
2019
100%
2020
86%, 95% (cum.)†
2018-19
|A
2020
|86%, 95% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2019
|36%, 38% (cum.)†
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (2)
New Jersey Right to Life PAC
New Jersey Second Amendment Society
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)
New Jersey Right to Life
NJ 2nd Amendment Society
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
Jay Webber (2018)
Leonard Lance (2008)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2019)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE*
*Additional information was received after the evaluation was assigned and was not considered in the Panel Evaluations, therefore it is for additional educational purposes only.
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
As a Member of the New Jersey State Assembly I have never voted for a pro-abortion bill. I have always been "A" rated with New Jersey Right to Life. I am pro-life from conception to natural death.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
I voted in opposition to New Jersey's assisted suicide bill. I have always been a pro-life legislator.
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
None. Due to the principle of the “double effect,” surgical procedures that save the mother’s life while causing the undesired and unintended death of the preborn child, it is unnecessary to allow an exception for abortion when the mother’s life is in danger.
ECONOMY
Redistribution of income is needed to lessen the gap between the wealthy and working classes.
Strongly Disagree
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Strongly Agree
During my time in the NJ State Legislature I have never voted for a budget that increased the state's debt. I support a balanced budget amendment to the US Constitution. Borrowing from our kid's future to pay today's bills is immoral. In Congress, I will support a reduction in spending to pay down our national debt. Also, while in the Legislature, I never voted for a new tax or a tax increase and I will not vote in support of increasing taxes or for a new tax in Congress.
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I would eliminate the current tax code and institute a 10% flat tax. I would have thresholds on when the tax would begin based on the number of dependents and household income. For example a family of 4 would not pay taxes on the first $40,000 of household income and all income over $40,000 would be taxed at 10%.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
Freedom of religion is the cornerstone of our form of government. Our founding fathers understood that GOD gave us our rights (right of free will) not government which is the basis of our freedom. In Congress, I will support and introduce legislation that protects religious freedom and oppose any legislation that tries to limit religious freedom. More importantly, I will be a role model for my community by living my conservative Christian values including joining the prayer caucus.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
No one should be forced to do anything that violates their religious values whether in their business life or personal life. In Congress I will introduce and support legislation that would codify President Trump's Exec. Order No. 13798 § 4, 82 Fed. Reg. 21675 (May 4, 2017).
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
The "separation of church and state" means that the state shall not create a state sanctioned church/religion that the people are required to participate. Instead, all churches should be treated equally by the state. Churches should not be discriminated against in any way including in the enforcement of laws, contracting with the state or be forced to act in a way that violates the church's beliefs and values.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Government, school and employers should not be able to coerce or require people to be vaccinated against their will or against their religious values. As a legislator, I have always voted against legislation that would require people to be vaccinated to attend school or to work.
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.
The high cost of health care insurance is due to government requirements that have made health insurance unnecessarily expensive. Health care insurance laws and regulations need to be revised to allow for an open market place for health insurance which will reduce the cost of health insurance and eliminate the need for government funded health insurance for almost every American except for the extremely poor. My goal would be to make health insurance affordable without government assistance. Until we reach that goal we will have to continue to have Medicaid and Medicare.
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
I support C.
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.
Strongly Disagree
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The United States should stop funding, directly and indirectly, Islamic terrorist countries or countries that sponsor or give aid to terrorist like Iran. Sanctions should be imposed on any country that directly or indirectly funds Islamic terrorist nations or state sponsors of terrorist.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
State and federal funds shall be denied to any public or private entity, such as a sanctuary city, that is not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Agree
In the legislature I voted against Governor Murphy's sanctuary state laws and funding.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The US immigration policy should be designed to permit immigration to our country to those individuals who want to become U.S. citizens and be productive members of our society.
VALUES
Sexual orientation and gender identity should be protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
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 believe that Jesus Christ is my lord and savior. I follow Jesus' commandment "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34–35). We can love one another because we are all GOD's children and therefore equal in GOD's eyes. If everyone lived according to Jesus's commandment the world would be a wonderful, peaceful place.
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 would require ID to vote and would eliminate vote by mail except in very limited circumstances. Also, I would require all ballots be counted on election day and that any ballots received after election day are not eligible to be counted.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is not a threat to domestic security. The vast majority of Americans are not racist and want everyone, regardless of race, to be treated equally.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
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" comes closest to my views. I am introducing legislation in NJ and will do introduce in Congress, that would require all regulations to be approved by the legislature within 5 years or the regulation would automatically terminate and can't be reinstated for two years.
ABOUT YOU
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?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Review my voting record on the New Jersey Legislative website. Also, my CPAC lifetime rating as a legislator is 95% which is the highest in New Jersey and the region. I recently received honored by CPAC for my voting record.
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?
Go to www.peterson2022.com and learn more about my candidacy and compare my record on the issues with the other candidates. I am the only candidate that has been tried and tested on the issues in this questionnaire and remained true to conservative Republican values.
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
In the NJ state legislature, I voted against eliminating qualified immunity for police officers.
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?
Prohibit felons from owning guns. Personally and as a legislator, I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and have and have always had an "A" rating with the NRA. The Second Amendment Society has endorsed my candidacy for Congress.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
