Nyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Erlandsen akashanda kwamakore 23 somugadziri wepepa weEscanaba Paper Company. Akaita basa rinokosha pakuronga sangano rechikwereti chekambani muna 1941, uye akashanda semubati wezvemari akasarudzwa uye maneja wesangano rechikwereti kusvika muna 1948. Musi waNovember 2, 1948, Erlandsen akasarudzwa kuImba yeVamiriri yeMichigan kwaakamiririra dunhu reDelta County kubva muna Ndira 5, 1949 kusvika Zvita 31, 1964. Musi waNovember 4, 1964, Erlandsen akasarudzwa zvakare kuMichigan House of Representatives kwaakamiririra dunhu re107 kubva muna Ndira 13, 1965 kusvika Zvita 31, 1966. Erlandsen akakundwa paakatsvaka kusarudzwazve muna 1966, uye zvakare muna 1968. Muna 1956
, Erlandsen akanga ari nhume kuDemocratic National Convention.