George Erlandson

George Erlandson was an American and Minnesotan politician who served as the final Governor of the U.S. state of Minnesota from 2127 to 2134, and as the 1st President of the Minnesotan Republic from 2134 to 2140. He ran and governed as a center-right politician in both countries.

Early life
George Leo Erlandson was born on January 18th, 2070 in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, to middle school teacher Anna Erlandson (2035–2127) and social worker William Erlandson (2037–2119). Erlandson had a generally middle class upbringing, and graduated from Coon Rapids High School in 2088. Erlandson took a gap year then attended Concordia University in St. Paul, graduating with a political science degree in 2094.

Career
George Erlandson worked on several Republican campaigns both locally and nationally throughout his 20s and 30s, most notably being vice chair of Jessica Snow's re-election campaign. Erlandson became a major Republican pundit, traveling around the country giving speeches and campaigning for Republican candidates. In 2114, George Erlandson was a major backer of underdog Nigel Hart in the Republican primary for that year's Minnesota gubernatorial election, in which Hart unexpectedly beat two better-known opponents and went on to win the general election against incumbent Green Party governor Jack Axel and Free Market candidate Hazel Banks. Hart won a second term in 2118, but was defeated for a third term by Green Party candidate Mackena Kraft in 2122.

Governor of Minnesota
Erlandson ran for Minnesota governor in 2126, and easily won the primary against splintered opposition. Kraft declined to run for a second term, and Sarah Awana was nominated as the Green candidate. Erlandson won the election in a landslide, taking 51.27% of the vote to Awana's 38.91%, winning a majority before ranked choice voting.

In his first term as governor, Erlandson notably implemented education reforms to improve the infrastructure of the Variety system for schools in the state, which had first been implemented 10 years earlier. Erlandson also oversaw the planning and beginning of construction of Interstates 294 and 894, which were planned to form a second ring road around the Twin Cities metropolitan area, a project was permanently cancelled after the Nogales nuclear war. Erlandson was re-elected as governor in 2130 by a 20 percentage point margin against Green candidate Abdikarim Aweys. Erlandson campaigned for a third term as governor in 2134, to run against Green candidate Kirby Johnson, and was widely favored to win. However, less than a month before the planned date of the election, the Nogales nuclear war broke out, and nuclear bombs were dropped on hundreds of cities across the United States and Mexico, including Minnesota's largest city Minneapolis. Over 2 million died in Minnesota and hundreds of millions more died across the rest of the United States. Erlandson survived, as he had been touring northern Minnesota to campaign for re-election, and Lieutenant Governor Asher Arnold, who was in St. Paul, the capital of the state and direct neighbor to Minneapolis, survived with most of the Minnesota State Legislature with a bunker under the Minnesota State Capitol.

President of the Minnesotan Republic
The United States was officially dissolved on October 18th, 2134, and Erlandson was instrumental in the creation of the Nogales country of the Minnesotan Republic. He became the country's first President, and Asher Arnold became its first Vice President. Erlandson was elected as president of the country until 2136 in early November 2134 with no opposition and 89% of the vote. Erlandson's presidency focused on rebuilding after the Nogales war, negotiating treaties and agreements with other countries, and setting up the new Minnesotan government in the new capital city, Rochester. Erlandson was re-elected in 2136 with 77% of the vote under the new Conservative Party, defeating Old Labor candidate Scott Gray. Erlandson retired as president in 2140 since under the Minnesotan Republic's constitution, presidents can serve two lifetime terms. He was succeeded by fellow Conservative Revolution Hoyt.

Retirement
Erlandson continued to be active in politics in his retirement, supporting Conservative Party candidates in the Minnesotan Republic. He lived in Rochester until his death of natural causes in 2167 at the age of 97.

Personal life
George Erlandson was a devout Catholic in life, and attended mass every Sunday until three weeks before his death. He married May Erlandson (née. May Nachtwey) in 2102, and the two remained married until May's death in 2154. George Erlandson had 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren when he died in 2167.