Eric Sorensen - Meet the Freshmen

Eric Sorensen

Eric Sorensen
Party:
Democratic
Chamber:
House
State:
District:
17

IL-17: Eric Sorensen (D)

Replacing:

Cheri Bustos (D)[i]

WORK HISTORY:

KTRE (Chief Meteorologist); KLTV (Morning Meteorologist); WREX TV (Morning Meteorologist / Chief Meteorologist); WQAD News (Senior Meteorologist)[ii]

Education:

BS, Northern Illinois University[iii]

Campaigned On:

Addressing Rising Costs; Securing Reproductive Rights; Creating Sustainable Jobs; Strengthening Our Health Care; Addressing Climate Change; Investing in Our Schools; Preventing the Next Pandemic[iv]

On the Issues

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

As a pro-choice candidate, Sorensen said he disagreed with the Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, arguing that every American “should have access to high-quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion.”[v] He has called on Congress to pass legislation to codify abortion rights.[vi]

ECONOMY, JOBS & TAXES:

Sorensen has said that addressing economic issues will be his top priority in office, and he has called for ensuring that “our manufacturing power is put to work,” federal infrastructure funds are provided to Central and Northwest Illinois, and that small businesses receive “the support and representation they need.”[vii] To reduce inflation, he has said the he will “tackle” the issue “at its root” by “unleash[ing] the great purchasing power of the federal government to negotiate down drug prices.” He supports raising the federal minimum wage and implementing “support protections for workers so that we make clear the expectation that they get fair wages, and safe conditions.”[viii]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

To help provide access to quality and affordable healthcare to every American, Sorensen supports “protecting and improving” the Affordable Care Act to make sure that individuals with pre-existing conditions receive healthcare coverage. He is also in favor of creating a public option and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices to lower healthcare costs.[ix] He has also pledged to protect Social Security.[x]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

As a candidate, Sorensen called for immigration reform that included “solving the crisis at the border” and “securing the ability for migrant farm workers to achieve the visas that they need.”[xi] He has tweeted several times indicating that he was against the Trump Administration’s attempts to build a border wall.[xii]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

During the campaign, regarding reports of violence and abuse at Thomas Prison, Sorensen said he supported a “federal Department of Justice investigation and addressing the chronic understaffing crisis.”[xiii] An opponent of “defund the police” policies, he has instead called for “restor[ing] the dignity of their profession through funding their salaries, training, and equipment to a level equal to the tasks being assigned to them.”[xiv] In a June 2020 tweet in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, Sorensen stated, “Spent some time soul searching at George Floyd’s memorial in Minneapolis. I am still shook up and don’t think I’ll really be ‘okay’ until I can do more.”[xv]

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS & ELECTION SECURITY:

Sorensen has expressed opposition to term limits and incredulity at reports of mail-in ballot fraud, contending, “The percentage of potentially fraudulent ballots in this country stands at 0.0025%.”[xvi] [xvii] He has said that he will seek to expand voting rights, arguing, “Protecting access to the ballot is a key component to protecting our democracy.”[xviii] He supports marriage equality and protecting same-sex marriage.[xix]

EDUCATION:

Sorensen believes in passing the funding necessary for schools and teachers to be able to provide “fair, accessible, and quality education for the next generation.”[xx] When asked if he supported providing student loan debt relief, Sorensen responded that “We need to be lowering barriers for individuals to obtain higher education, without the lifelong burden of crippling debt,” and he advocated for promoting trade schools and apprenticeship programs.[xxi] He has also advocated for increasing teacher pay.[xxii]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

Of the belief that climate change is “real and serious,” Sorensen has advocated for the US to be “part of the supply chain” of electric vehicle infrastructure.[xxiii] He has opposed fracking and carbon pipelines, instead calling for “fast track[ing] clean energy production.”[xxiv] [xxv] In comments regarding Green New Deal legislation, Sorensen said he believed the measure was unlikely to pass, but he supported provisions to incentivize purchasing electric vehicles and training workers to transition to a clean energy economy.[xxvi]

GUN SAFETY:

A supporter of several gun control measures, Sorensen has backed an assault rifle ban, background checks on all gun sales, and “highly regulat[ing]/prohibit[ing]” ammunition sales. [xxvii] [xxviii] [xxix] He has expressed opposition to arming teachers to prevent school shootings.[xxx] He has also advocated for implementing red flag laws to keep firearms from those who may pose a danger to others or themselves.[xxxi]

FOREIGN POLICY:

Sorensen has expressed support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia. He has said he is in favor of continuing US embargos against Russian fossil fuels. [xxxii] [xxxiii]


[i] Herb Trix, “Sorensen prepares for fall campaign,” Peoria Public Radio, June 30, 2022, available at https://www.wcbu.org/state-news/2022-06-30/sorensen-prepares-for-fall-campaign.

[ii] Eric Sorensen LinkedIn, accessed November 4, 2022, available at https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-sorensen-1733a989/.

[iii] Eric Sorensen LinkedIn, accessed November 4, 2022, available at https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-sorensen-1733a989/.

[iv] “What Eric Believes In,” Eric Sorensen for Illinois, accessed November 4, 2022, available at https://www.ericforillinois.com/issues.

[v] “What Eric Believes In,” Eric Sorensen for Illinois, accessed November 4, 2022, available at https://www.ericforillinois.com/issues.

[vi] Eric Sorensen Twitter, June 24, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1540344280899887105.

[vii] Grace Kinnicutt, “Meet the Illinois-17th District candidates: Eric Sorensen and Esther Joy King,” Quad-City Times, October 17, 2022, available at https://qctimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/meet-the-illinois-17th-district-candidates-eric-sorensen-and-esther-joy-king/article_87caae95-93e4-543e-bfdb-5ba86e883b0e.html.

[viii] “Illinois United States Representative District 17 Candidate: Eric Sorensen,” KWQC, October 25, 2022, available at https://www.kwqc.com/2022/10/25/illinois-united-states-representative-district-17-candidate-eric-sorensen/.

[ix] “What Eric Believes In,” Eric Sorensen for Illinois, accessed November 4, 2022, available at https://www.ericforillinois.com/issues.

[x] Eric Sorensen Twitter, August 15, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1559252684854771712.

[xi] Joe Deacon, “King, Sorensen outline differences in 17th District U.S. House debate,” WCBU, October 3, 2022, available at https://www.wglt.org/illinois/2022-10-03/king-sorensen-outline-differences-on-major-issues-during-debate-in-race-for-17th-district-house-seat.

[xii] Eric Sorensen Twitter, June 19, 2018, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1009130284065939456.

[xiii] Grace Kinnicutt, “Meet the Illinois-17th District candidates: Eric Sorensen and Esther Joy King,” Quad-City Times, October 17, 2022, available at https://qctimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/meet-the-illinois-17th-district-candidates-eric-sorensen-and-esther-joy-king/article_87caae95-93e4-543e-bfdb-5ba86e883b0e.html.

[xiv] “Illinois United States Representative District 17 Candidate: Eric Sorensen,” KWQC, October 25, 2022, available at https://www.kwqc.com/2022/10/25/illinois-united-states-representative-district-17-candidate-eric-sorensen/.

[xv] Eric Sorensen Twitter, June 28, 2020, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1277394424922849280.

[xvi] Eric Sorensen Twitter, July 30, 2020, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1288809213209251840.

[xvii] Eric Sorensen Twitter, July 30, 2020, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1288827480976117760.

[xviii] Eric Sorensen Twitter, July 13, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1547237111274868736.

[xix] Eric Sorensen Twitter, October 5, 2020, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1313230377301966848.

[xx] “What Eric Believes In,” Eric Sorensen for Illinois, accessed November 4, 2022, available at https://www.ericforillinois.com/issues.

[xxi] “Illinois United States Representative District 17 Candidate: Eric Sorensen,” KWQC, October 25, 2022, available at https://www.kwqc.com/2022/10/25/illinois-united-states-representative-district-17-candidate-eric-sorensen/.

[xxii] Eric Sorensen Twitter, July 27, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1552274043730100224.

[xxiii] “Illinois United States Representative District 17 Candidate: Eric Sorensen,” KWQC, October 25, 2022, available at https://www.kwqc.com/2022/10/25/illinois-united-states-representative-district-17-candidate-eric-sorensen/.

[xxiv] Eric Sorensen Twitter, September 18, 2020, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1306898438081085440.

[xxv] Eric Sorensen Twitter, July 6, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1544839378639458304.

[xxvi] Tim Shelley, “Why Eric Sorensen believes a hometown advantage may prove key to tilting ‘toss-up’ IL-17 to Democrats this November,” Peoria Public Radio, August 15, 2022, available at https://www.wcbu.org/local-news/2022-08-15/why-eric-sorensen-believes-a-hometown-advantage-may-prove-key-to-tilting-toss-up-il-17-to-democrats-this-november.

[xxvii] Eric Sorensen Twitter, July 4, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1544099761174810624.

[xxviii] Eric Sorensen Twitter, June 15, 2016, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/743135755657166848.

[xxix] Eric Sorensen Twitter, June 8, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1534523727244828673.

[xxx] Eric Sorensen Twitter, February 22, 2018, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/966700011202412544.

[xxxi] Tim Shelley, “Why Eric Sorensen believes a hometown advantage may prove key to tilting 'toss-up' IL-17 to Democrats this November,” WCBU, August 15, 2022, available at https://www.wglt.org/illinois/2022-08-15/why-eric-sorensen-believes-a-hometown-advantage-may-prove-key-to-tilting-toss-up-il-17-to-democrats-this-november.

[xxxii] Eric Sorensen Twitter, March 16, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1504097831103217665.

[xxxiii] Eric Sorensen Twitter, June 11, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/ERICSORENSEN/status/1535495831394127872.

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