Erik Aadland, a GOP candidate for Colorado’s 7th Congressional District in the Jefferson County area, recently announced that he had received the endorsement of rock star and outspoken conservative activist Ted Nugent.
“The Nugent family knows real Colorado, standing up for God, family, country, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, law and order,” Nugent said in the announcement. “That’s why we endorse and support Erik Aadland for U.S. Congress for the conservative families of real Colorado.”
Aadland, a first-time candidate, decided to run for office after attending a political candidate training program run by America First Republicans (AFR).
Initially, he was competing in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate; however, in December, Aadland dropped out of the race to run for the U.S. House seat now occupied by U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, who isn’t seeking another term.
Both Aadland and Nugent believe that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump, despite extensive evidence to the contrary.
Nugent has a history of extremist political comments prior to 2020. In early 2016, he called for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to be hanged for treason. More recently, he said he wanted to give Kyle Rittenhouse “a lifetime supply of ammunition.”
This is not the first time Nugent has dipped his toe into Colorado politics. In 2019, he helped fundraise for Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams, an opponent of Colorado’s ‘red flag’ gun control law.
READ MORE: Nugent Fundraising for Pro-Gun Sheriff
Later, in 2020, he stood in opposition to a ballot measure that would reintroduce gray wolves to certain areas of Colorado. Proponents held that the measure would help to balance out local ecosystems. Voters approved the initiative in the 2020 election.
Nugent has also given endorsements to candidates in other states, including Arizona gubernatorial candidate Matt Salmon and Texas gubernatorial candidate Allen West.
State Sen. Brittany Pettersen (D-Lakewood) is the sole Democrat running in the race.
