Paul Wikstrom
Republican | Minnesota
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
University of Minnesota - Institute of Technology, Minneapolis, BEE, 1987-
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MSSE, 1997-
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Wings of Mercy Minnesota, Volunteer pilot
North Suburban Soccer Association, Board member, president, coach
Mounds View High School, Booster Club member, president
Community Emergency Response Team, Ramsey County, Volunteer
Republican Party, Minnesota, Convention convenor, parliamentarian, campaigner
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
2023 Mounds View School Board
2024 Minnesota State House 40B, 2024-
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (3)
Freedom Club
Republican Party of Minnesota
Minneapolis Republican Party
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Freedom Club
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
State Republican Party Organizations (2025)
May Lor Xiong (2024)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Karla J. Nelson (2025)
Rachel Japuntich (2025)
OTHER INFORMATION
Paul Wikstrom completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Agree
I believe that every human life has dignity and should be protected. As a candidate for federal office, I support policies that value life, support mothers and families, and work within the current legal framework.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Agree
Human life deserves protection at every stage, including the embryonic stage. I support policies that respect life, support families, and encourage compassionate alternatives.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Elective abortion should be limited, while protecting the life of the mother, and supporting women with real alternatives like prenatal care, adoption and financial support.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Disagree
Taxpayer funds should not be used to support abortion providers, and public money should go to organizations that provide comprehensive, life-affirming care.
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Agree
I support laws that protect women’s health, respect existing law, and are interpreted consistently with modern medical practice.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Free enterprise and private property are the foundation of a healthy, productive economy because they reward hard work, innovation, and personal responsibility.
People who can afford to pay more taxes should do so in order to provide relief for working families.
Disagree
In Minnesota, too many middle-class families are earning less than people receiving certain benefits, and that’s backwards. The middle class has become the working poor, and we need policies that reward work and help families move forward.
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Agree
The government should cut spending and eliminate deficit spending before raising taxes. Our national debt now exceeds $40T. The annual deficit is $1.8T. Waste, fraud and abuse is a significant amount of the deficit. The interest on our national debt is now comparable to our defense budget. Source: usdebtclock.org
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
My top priorities would be to eliminate fraud, especially in deficit spending, reduce and simplify regulations, cut red tape that burdens businesses, and consolidate overlapping agencies and redundant federal programs. The goal should be a smaller, more efficient government that delivers better results at lower cost.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
People should be free to live and work according to their faith and conscience, while the law should be applied fairly and respectfully to everyone.
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
To me, it means the government should not establish a religion or interfere with the free exercise of faith. The First Amendment protects both religious liberty and freedom from government-imposed religion.
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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
C) Government can be inefficient in delivering services, but programs like Medicare and Medicaid are necessary to protect vulnerable populations. At the same time, we should promote private healthcare markets across state lines to increase competition and lower costs, while also encouraging healthier lifestyles and personal responsibility.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Disagree
I believe medical records should remain private between patients and their doctors. A government database poses significant privacy risks and represents an unnecessary expansion of federal oversight into the personal lives of citizens.
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.
C)
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
The CCP is a significant strategic adversary. We must move beyond the failed status quo of the last two decades to secure our borders against cyber threats, protect American intellectual property, and ensure our economic independence.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. Israel has been a strong ally in the Middle East and the U.S. - Israeli relationship is important to stability in that region.
Islamic terrorism is a threat to the United States' national security.
Agree
Terrorist groups that use religion to justify violence are a threat to U.S. national security.
IMMIGRATION
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
People who follow the law and enter through established legal pathways should be allowed to immigrate to the United States.
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Disagree
I believe in the rule of law and the consistent enforcement of our immigration policies. Federal, state, and local law enforcement must work together to ensure public safety, and I oppose policies that prevent cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Agree
I support reducing federal control over education and returning more decision-making to states, local communities, parents, and schools.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Agree
American education should be funded by Americans, and foreign governments should not influence our schools through funding.
VALUES
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Agree
Children should be protected from sexual exploitation, coercion, and irreversible medical decisions, and parents should be fully informed and involved.
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 personally believe marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman, and religious freedom should protect that belief.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a practicing Catholic, and my spiritual beliefs center on faith in God, prayer, and the sacraments, My values include humility, service, compassion, family, honesty, and a commitment to living out my faith in daily life.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support making voting accessible while maintaining secure and fair elections through reliable registration and verification systems.
EQUALITY
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
I support protecting women's sports and sex-specific spaces with clear policies that respect privacy, safety and competitive fairness.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
I support a comprehensive energy strategy that keeps electricity reliable, affordable, and resilient while protecting natural resources. As a highly regulated and mature energy source, nuclear energy has proven to be dependable and economical.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
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
I would describe my overall views as conservative, grounded in faith, personal responsibility, limited government, and a strong defense of individual liberty.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Parents have the primary responsibility to protect their children. Government plays a role to establish standards of protection, and to punish offenders.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Felons should not possess guns. Existing gun laws should be consistently enforced to protect public safety.
