I'm a working-class dad dedicated to social, racial, environmental and economic justice - and I’ve run for Congress twice. This is my story.
I’m a working-class dad with a lifelong dedication to social, racial, environmental and economic justice for all.
In 2016 and 2018, I ran for US Congress. I am working to integrate and share this story.
For now, below are some blog posts and pieces of news coverage related to that incredible journey!
The Bohemian's recent "Feel the Turn" article on Palsson, which generated significant buzz throughout the North Bay, was recently re-published in Pacific Sun's Upfront section.
Here's the article, in case you missed it…
In an extensive article on the June 5th CA Primary ballot, the Martinez News-Gazette commented recently that Nils Palsson is THE challenger in this race to unseat 10-term establishment incumbent Mike Thompson.
Palsson has joined with Florida independent candidate for Congress Tim Canova and over 60 other candidates for federal office in signing a candidate contract committing these public servants to taking concrete action to eliminate corruption and create a more transparent and accountable government, including overturning Citizens United and linking Congressional salary to the median household income in America.
Nils was recently featured in a wonderful hour-long interview on Uphill Media’s #WeThePeople program, which introduces candidates to the voting public. This was an enjoyable experience, and it’s a great watch! Check it out here.
On May 9th, Nils was honored with an opportunity to join DJ Billy on Vallejo's own Ozcat Radio, KZCT 89.5FM for an excellent interview. Here's the video! The interview, which aired live on Ozcat, was also streamed on Facebook Live. Any questions or feedback? Feel free to leave a comment or contact me any time!
This campaign is honored to have been endorsed by a growing number of local civic groups, including Our Revolution North Bay and Our Revolution West Marin. Palsson, an elected Bernie Sanders Delegate in 2016, is running on a platform of social, racial, environmental and economic justice for ALL.
Independent Nils Palsson from California joins the hundreds of candidates across the nation who have proudly proclaimed they're #NotForSale by signing the American Promise Candidate Pledge. A 28th Amendment is an issue every candidate, regardless of political party, should be behind. Palsson: “Real integrity means standing with out people and planet — not huge corporations and their lobbyists. This campaign accepts NO money from corporate special interests. I stand with our families and communities. Let’s take back Congress!”
Can Bernie backer Nils Palsson unseat incumbent Mike Thompson?
Nils Palsson is running against Blue Dog Democrat Mike Thompson in California's 5th congressional district, decrying the incumbent's long list of big-money contributions from the corporate world as he's launched a Sanders-friendly campaign—and accepting individual contributions of $27.
I'm writing with big news: after successfully filing as a candidate for the 2018 election, I learned that there is no Republican in the race this year! The most conservative man on the ballot is probably the ten-term 'Democratic' incumbent I'm challenging. There is also a Green who is not a serious contender, and one other No Party candidate who has no website, and whose Facebook profile says he lives in New Mexico. What I'm trying to say is: WE GOT THIS.
Article on Nils Palsson featured in the Benicia Herald: "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."
"Getting Money Out of Politics" includes publicly funding elections, ending the influence of big money on our political system, and affirming that corporations are not people. Reclaiming our democracy is the first step to getting our needs met. From health care and education to energy and the economy, we, the people, will only have our say when we've elected leaders who are responsive to the people, not to the lobbyists of mega-corporations and the wealthiest 1%. Winning this election is the first step.
“Nils is a talented and effective community organizer who knows what it takes to create change. He will take his skills to Washington, and teach Congress a lesson,” wrote Carol Cole-Lewis of Lake County.
“I am just like the rest of the people in my district,” Palsson wrote in a statement. “I’m dealing directly with challenges like student debt and the housing crisis. I know how it feels to be a working-class parent — and I am ready to represent the working-class people of this district in Congress.”
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Teacher, nonprofit communications director and former Lake County resident Nils Palsson has filed as a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the Fifth Congressional District in the upcoming 2018 midterm election.
@NIPalsson: Honored to have signed the #NoFossilFuelMoney Pledge: I pledge to not take contributions from the oil, gas, and coal industry and instead prioritize the health of our families, climate, and democracy over fossil fuel industry profits! #PlanetEarth #SystemChangeNotClimateChange
I'm honored to have signed Move to Amend's candidate "Pledge to Amend," a statement of my solidarity with the people and my active willingness to stand up in Congress to support a much-needed constitutional amendment to make it clear that corporations are not people, money is not speech, and campaign contributions must be regulated to ensure fair elections.
On March 9, Nils Palsson was interviewed on the popular Real Progressives program, hosted by Joy Marie Mann. The interview features insight into Palsson's origin story, political platform, and top priorities. Check it out and share!
I am running for Congress because we, the people, deserve a voice in government. Big money has taken over politics, while our families struggle to survive. To truly thrive, we need visionary leadership. I will address the pressing issues of our time, including wealth inequality, climate change, social and racial justice, affordable housing, education and healthcare.
...as we ascend the slope, the mountaintop will not always be readily visible. But I trust that, putting one foot in front of the other, the path will continue to lay itself out ahead of us.
“You’ll never get money out of politics,” he told me
The question of our Emergency Preparedness and our Community Resilience really is a question of maturity — perhaps a longer discussion than many of us have the patience for — but it is a topic at least worth broaching. We are the stewards of our communities and lands and watersheds. If we grow up, we’ll thrive together. If we don’t, we’ll perish alone.
(2) What is your position on the ORCEM/VMT project and have you read the DEIR?
As a citizen of the Bay — as a father and a human being sharing this natural environment with you — I am very concerned abut the ORCEM/VMT project. I have read through the 700+page DEIR outlining the many “unavoidable” damages to our environment that would result from this project. As I understand it, ORCEM/VMT is doing its best to move forward — with shady backroom approval from local, state and federal members of the political establishment — despite the overwhelming concerns of citizens, parents, community leaders, indigenous elders, activists and citizens throughout our community.
This Wednesday night, we made history at the United Democrats of Southern Solano County.
After hearing from a candidate who is truly for the people, this brave group broke its long tradition of endorsing the 9-term incumbent. Members were split evenly and failed to reach the 50%+1 needed to make an endorsement.
A number of community members and elders suggested this was a great victory for our movement. Our opponent has lost the support of the United Democrats of Solano County. That is significant. It shows that voters are ready for change!
Enter Nils Palsson, a 30-year-old self-described community organizer from Lake County. Palsson has served as a communications coordinator for Transition US, a sustainability nonprofit out of Sebastopol. He has also served as a high school history teacher and is the host of “Wake Up and Thrive” on Lake County community station KPFZ.
Palsson describes himself as a “Berniecrat,” i.e., a candidate aligned with the views of presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT). In fact, Palsson was elected to serve as a pledged delegate for Sanders at the Democratic National Convention this July in Philadelphia.
Palsson’s platform concerns social, racial, and environmental justice for all with a special focus on getting money out of politics.
“Big money has taken over politics,” he said in a statement. “I am running for this office because we, the people, deserve a voice in government.”
Why is Your Democratic Representative Accepting Millions from the World’s Worst Corporations?
If our elected officials were more like NASCAR drivers, with logos showing us where they get their money, you would see Wal-Mart, Verizon, Tesoro, Lockheed-Martin, Morgan Stanley, and a great many other corporate sponsors on the jacket of Congressman Mike Thompson.
Probably too many logos to fit on a single coat.
My name is Nils Palsson, and I am writing this not only as a candidate for United States Congress (and a true progressive challenger to Thompson’s 18-year reign of establishment politics in that same seat): I am writing this a citizen, and as a constituent in California’s 5th Congressional District.
I’m writing this as a father.
Ava Kennedy and Nils Palsson were among the top vote receivers in CD5. Natalie Higley and Jonathan Holt captured top spots in CD3. Kennedy and Higley are members of the steering committee of Lake County, CA for Bernie Sanders. Palsson is a candidate for Congress from CD5.
I am a community builder, teacher of people’s history, and candidate for United States Congress in California’s 5th District. I’ve been a grassroots organizer with the Transition Movement, working toward thriving resilience and local empowerment, for several years in Lake County, CA and around the North Bay Area. I am a father, I am an active citizen, and I believe in democracy: rule of the people.
I am running for Congress because we face urgent and epic-scale issues — from global warming and income inequality to systemic racism and the prison-industrial complex — and I see our elected officials doing very little to address the issues most important to the people. Most of our politicians in Congress, Democrat and Republican alike, take money from big banks, the fossil fuel industry, and other ‘special interests’ that undermine our democracy. They vote in line with those who cut the checks, and keep silent on the most critical issues, like climate change. This is why electing representatives who actually represent the people is tantamount to political revolution.
In just a couple of weeks, with your help, we gathered hundreds of signatures of nomination, from all around the district -- in the process of nominating Nils as the people's candidate for U.S House of Representatives (CA-5). In fact, we gathered hundreds more signatures than either of our confirmed opponents, each of whom apparently submitted only the bare minimum.
Hello Voters!
I've got until Feb. 25 to gather 3,000 valid signatures from voters in California's 5th District.
Will you help?
Nils Palsson participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on May 11, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Nils Palsson's responses follow below.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
1) Getting money out of politics and reclaiming our democracy.
2) Ensuring top-quality education, universal health care and affordable housing for all.
3) Bold leadership on the crises of climate change, wealth inequality and racial injustice. Achieving social, racial, environmental and economic justice for all.