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.
[3] On return from Korea, Erhardt enrolled in the University of Minnesota graduating with a BA in Psychology and a BBA in Business.
[4] Erhardt's long community involvement includes: twice appointed by the state to Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), Edina Community Foundation, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Past Member of the Edina Human Rights Commission, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Society of Financial Service Professionals, Citizens League, Sierra Club, Ducks Unlimited, University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts Alumni society; Past member, and Edina Rotary.
[5] Prior to 2010, Erhardt was a long time Republican, known as a fiscal conservative and a social moderate, basing his positions and votes on the predominant views of the voters of his district.
Previously, Erhardt served on the House Committees for Transportation Policy (Vice-Chairman), Taxes- where he, as ranking minority member, authored a major revision of Minnesota Real Property Taxes, Transportation Finance, as well as long time service on the Ways and Means Committee.
Local conservative Republicans were upset with Erhardt's leadership of the over-ride of Governor Pawlenty's veto of the Transportation bill, and with his views on abortion and gay rights.
[9] Erhardt had been instrumental in the drafting of this bill which included a graduated increase in the gas tax dedicated to highway and bridge repair and construction.
[10] Political columnist Lori Sturdevant's post election analysis in the Star Tribune hypothesized that if it been a two way race, either Ron Erhardt or Kevin Staunton would have easily beaten Keith Downey, based on the turnout.
Kevin Staunton was the endorsed DFL candidate and ran in a two way race losing to then incumbent Republican Keith Downey.
Erhardt defeated his Republican opponent, Bill Glahn, by a 12 percent margin in the November 2012 general election.