Nils Palsson is an independent candidate in the race for California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes Benicia. (Courtesy photo)
Two years after placing third in the congressional primary for California’s 5th District, Sonoma County teacher and nonprofit communications director Nils Palsson is giving it another go.
Palsson, 32, is looking to unseat Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson, who has served in Congress since 1999. This is not the first time Palsson had run for his seat. He had come in third in the 2016 primary, but per California’s top-two primary system, he was unable to advance to the November general election, where Thompson defeated Republican challenger Carlos Santamaria.
Although relatively new to running for political office, Palsson said he has been involved with political activism his entire life.
“I’ve been interested in political change and what’s going on with our planet and wealth inequality,” he said. “I’ve wanted to do something about it all along but didn’t know where to begin.”
For more than 10 years, Palsson was involved in local organizing through nonpartisan projects like food security and protecting local watersheds. One big change was the birth of his daughter Satya, now 5, which gave Palsson more of a need to fight for her future.
“We need to make a big change in order to give a better world, better environment and better economy to our children,” he said.
Palsson, who previously lived in Lake County but now lives in Santa Rosa, works as a communications director for the sustainability nonprofit Transition US and as a science teacher. He was also the host of the Lake County community station KPFZ program “Wake Up and Thrive,” where in 2014, he interviewed James Hinton, then an independent candidate running against Thompson.
“He did OK in the election and planted the seed in me of being an eligible candidate and having what I felt was a pretty serious grasp on the issues and policies,” Palsson said. “I thought, ‘Maybe I have a chance.’”
Palsson went to the Federal Election Commission website to do research on Thompson’s political contributions. The list showed hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from major banks, telecommunication companies, pharmaceutical corporations and more. This made Palsson, an opponent of corporate financing in campaigns, want to run in 2016.
“No one else who was running against him seemed to be in a position to win,” he said. “I felt like it was a duty.”
Palsson ran as a Democrat in 2016 but is now running as an independent. One advantage, he believes, is that there are no Republicans on the ballot this time.
“That fact, in and of itself, really ups my chances of making it through the primary,” he said.
The candidate describes himself as a “Berniecrat,” with his views closely aligned to those of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Palsson even served as a delegate for Sanders at the 2016 Democratic National Convention for the senator’s presidential bid that year.
A top priority for Palsson is getting money out of politics.
“I’m accountable to our people,” he said. “I don’t take any money from corporate lobbyists.”
Other goals for Palsson include combating climate change and wealth inequality and protecting the rights of women, people of color, immigrants and LGBTQ individuals.
“I stand in deep and radical solidarity with all oppressed people,” he said.
Likewise, Palsson supports free university tuition, creating affordable housing and helping rebuild infrastructure in the district following the Wine Country Fires in October.
Palsson said he has not spent as much time in Benicia as he would like but hopes to change that soon with an event planned for the spring. In regards to the allowance of cannabis dispensaries, Palsson believes cannabis can be a legitimate medicine but also did not support having them too close in proximity to schools.
“There are some compromises we need to make to honor everybody’s needs,” he said. “I could see there being some limits when it comes to schools and things like that, but beyond that I think we need to treat business owners with respect and treat patients with respect as well, especially when the big pharmaceutical industry is doing much more harm to the fabric of our society than dispensaries and cannabis.”
Following his previous campaign, Palsson feels confident he can pull through this time around with the lessons he learned.
“I’m believing in myself and believing that I can win and that we the people can win because it’s what’s needed at this time in history,” he said.
Other candidates on the ballot include Green Party candidate and American Canyon resident Jason Kishineff and independent candidate Anthony Mills. The primary is June 5.
For more information on Palsson’s campaign, go to NilsForCongress.com.
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When we the people start to see big money corruption as the topmost issue, vote in candidates who won’t accept corporate bribes, we can begin restoring our government to the republic it once was … `The candidate describes himself as a “Berniecrat,” with his views closely aligned to those of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Palsson even served as a delegate for Sanders at the 2016 Democratic National Convention for the senator’s presidential bid that year. A top priority for Palsson is getting money out of politics. “I’m accountable to our people,” he said. “I don’t take any money from corporate lobbyists.”`
He is without a doubt a Socialist Progressive Democrat regardless o how he is registered. He takes money away from the citizens and all for profit company’s. Just who does he think he is kidding. Only the local Socialist Progressive Democrats are falling all over themselves for a Bernie Like candidate.
Gee, I dunno about this “Socialist Progressive Democrat” stuff. What is wrong with calling it communism. Bernie (and this guy) is probably more liberal than Marx would have been. It is a real shame that our country can give birth to these sorts of idiots AND that they get listened to as if they had brains. Sure I want something for nothing, but I don’t think it is my right to steal from folks who ACTUALLY WORK FOR A LIVING. Darn, I hate living in this state.
Well, maybe because Socialism and Communism are too very different things. The Socialists were often the first people the Communists killed off when they went into eastern Europe in the early 20th century because they knew that Socialism, when working correctly, was more of a threat to them than pure capitalism was. We can see this in the current economic state of countries in Eastern Europe that have thrown Communism out. They are all, for the most part, Socialist and doing pretty well in making economic progress after the regression of the Communists. The Czech Republic and Poland are good examples – both Socialist and both making slow and steady “progress” economically – being magnets for investment from the west, particularly in tech and energy development. So, be careful about making Communism and Socialism the same. They are not even close. As for “Socialist Progressive Democrat” designation, not sure what it even means. I guess being progressive is something suspicious, although I don’t think Madison, Jefferson, Washington and Adams would agree!
While it is true that S & C are different philosophies of government, Pragmatically speaking if you are a “have”, they do not appear to be any different. Both S & C will take stuff away from you to give to “have nots”. and folks who have wasted their own opportunities and so are a drain to society. One part of my email “signature” is “”Stop feeling like a worthless parasite feeding on your nation like a louse. Be useful.”
Do “haves’ only exist in capitalism? Human history is complete with “haves” that were extremely corrupt, cruel, and immoral. Just as there have been been genuinely needy folks, that have suffered at the hands of the “haves”. Point being, being a “have” is not beyond reproach.
Heck no, lotsa haves in dictatorships as well as C & S and all forms of government. Folks with acquisitive natures will find the way to be acquisitive…just as there will be lazy folks who are content to eke bye with the minimum effort….and before you say so, there are even some folks who have no opportunity to become a “have” (slaves 200 years ago, wage slaves who lack ambition, folks with big ideas but lack follow-through, folks who must be a wage slave to feed hungry mouths or take care of ill family members….there are many more ways to fail to become a “have” than there are to succeed. My complaint with Bernie and this clone wannabe is they do not espouse hard work and making the most of opportunities, instead they cater to the mob and literally espouse stealing from the “haves” just because they “have”. and the mob doesn’t. It is just too easy to prey upon venal tendencies with offers of Free this or free that (college and health care for examples).
Thom, You are right about the first half. However, the article only touches on the idea of “freebies” as follows: “Likewise, Palsson supports free university tuition, creating affordable housing and helping rebuild infrastructure in the district following the Wine Country Fires in October.” I can’t say I disagree with all these things, if any. By the way, I work for a living and have done so most of my life., and I come from a hard working family
Just ask Bernie Sanders and even a some folks in Benicia. Their actions tell you all you need to know.
Doesn’t take money from corporate lobbyists … that’s funny! I’ll bet he takes money from unions. The SEIU, etc.
Unions are big money entities and often more corrupt than corporations.
“Palsson supports free university tuition”
No such thing. What he means is: Taxpayer funded tuition.
But “Free” sounds better to his targeted demographic.
Like “freeway”.
Sorry Thomas but it is not like that at all. “Free” in freeway has nothing to do with costs or lack of tolls, although many people make that error. They are called freeways, because of a lack of cross streets, intersections and traffic lights.
Dennis, What about “carpool”?
You mean like this:
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/07/19/article-2698380-1FC0976600000578-953_634x389.jpg
Dennis, I don’t think it is that literal The “pool” in carpool typically refers to a pool, or a a group of people, that commute together in a common vehicle.
So then that bad boy could be a carpool pool. I bet the gas mileage would be terrible though.
Dennis it appears the Socialist Progressives do not get it.
Most of them do not, those are the low information voters that the left relies upon to boost their numbers. But others do and they do not care that misleading information is used to advance their agenda.
It is a good thing that we do not live in a world of absolutes, as some would have folks believe.
Please ask mike thompson why he refuses to acknowledge fraud within “hud” in sonoma county one case by sonoma county employee, where i lived !!! Why he allows mental health patients to be abused !!! I have been trying for 18 mo , the only thing i recieved is a threat from the santa rosa office and i quote ” i better not pursue my issues ….also major drug issues on russian river by both homeless and some businesses. ….like to no more, im here….respectively. D.Damato
Wait until he gets into office ! Do you think he won’t be thrown an (expensive) bone, for doing something for someone, or some group ?
Sounds like a “Robin Hood” = Doing “Robin” for da hood !
This victim mentally is going to bankrupt this Country !
The people of this district love “King Mikey” because he “Brings home the money”. Yep, him and how many other congresspeople are in this Country ???
The wildfires in the North bay could have been prevented ! But no, as the enviro-nuts say, “Just leave it alone and it will take care of it’s self”. Well it sure as hell did !!! Mother nature took care of it alright !
Ever notice a high voltage transmission line through a heavy dense forest ? Don’t know about the ones in “The Peoples Republic of Kalifornia”, but in other states, ALL trees AND vegetation is removed, so as not to start a fire, OR to have a fire destroy their infrastructure.
What the hell ever happened to “Common Sense” ??? Oh, I forgot, we live in “The Peoples Republic of Kalifornia” , that’s why !
ENOUGH of the Berniecrats, and the treasonous Clinton followers.
Maybe you should take a look at Anthony Mills.
Just remember : “If you’re Right, you”re Right, and if you’re left, you’re willfully wrong” !
God Bless California and K.A.G. !
I lived in Alabama for a couple years working. Folks were friendly to your face. They call CA “the land of fruits and nuts”. Certainly the politics in this state would make one ashamed to live here. In CA, all men are created equally stupid.