- U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher has announced his unexpected retirement from representing Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District, a solidly Republican area.
- Hours after Gallagher announced his retirement, former state Sen. Roger Ross of Appleton announced his candidacy.
- Other potential candidates are also considering entering the race, including Republican consultant Alex Brucewicz and state Sen. Andre Jacques.
The sudden retirement of a Republican in a heavily Republican Wisconsin House district has leading candidates considering running, even though former state legislators quickly announced their names to the race.
U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher announced Saturday that he will not run for a fifth term representing northeastern Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. The sudden move comes days after he angered his fellow Republicans by refusing to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Just hours after Gallagher announced his retirement, former state Sen. Roger Ross of Appleton announced his candidacy on Saturday, at the same time endorsing Trump, but will not do so in the 2022 lieutenant governor race. I didn’t.
Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher announces retirement: “Congress is not the place to grow old.”
The district Mr. Gallagher represents is staunchly Republican. Mr. Gallagher, 39, who is considered a rising star in the Republican Party, has recently clashed with former President Donald Trump and his allies over Mr. Mayorkas’ vote.
Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) speaks during a hearing at the Capitol on July 18, 2023 in Washington. Gallagher’s sudden retirement in a solidly Republican Wisconsin House district has several potential candidates considering running, even though the former state lawmaker quickly jumped on board. Off to the races. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Although he lost the state to President Joe Biden by less than a point in 2020, Trump won the district by 16 points. Mr. Gallagher was re-elected three times by margins of 25 points or more. The district includes the cities of Appleton and Green Bay in Door County and covers most of the rural area north of Marinette.
Ross served in Congress from 2007 to 2023 and was a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in 2022. He ran for Congress in 2010, but lost in the primary to eventual winner Reid Ribble.
In a statement Saturday, Mr. Ross pitched himself as a “proven conservative fighter” while advocating for strengthening borders, national security, the economy and “traditional values.”
Ross was the first candidate to qualify, but he is almost certain to be the last.
Alex Brusewitz, a Republican consultant and ally of Mr. Trump, said Mr. Gallagher “betrayed the Republican Party and the American people by voting for Mr. Mayorkas,” and is considering running for office. He posted a letter of support from the Oconto County Republican Party Chairman on X (formerly Twitter) and said he looked forward to “spreading the MAGA message to Oconto Republican patriots.”
Brusewitz quickly gained the support of former Trump campaign consultant Roger Stone, who posted on social media that Brusewitz “will fully support the MAGA movement.”
Brucewicz, 26, was born in Wisconsin and currently lives in Florida. He would have to return to Wisconsin to run for the seat.
State Sen. Andre Jacques of De Pere has also said he is considering running. Other current and former Republicans are also expected to consider running.
Democrat Christine Leary, a physician from De Pere, previously said she was considering running against Gallagher. The Democratic Party did not field a candidate in the 2022 election.
The Wisconsin Democratic Party said in a statement Saturday that it looks forward to “competing in the 8th party and returning some stability and capacity to the House.”
Congressional committee chair slams TikTok’s role in supporting surge of Chinese migrants at southern border
Candidates must submit nominations by June 1 for the August 13 primary election.
Mark Graul, a longtime conservative strategist who lives in the district, said the open seat would certainly make the Republican primary more competitive, but it’s the presidential race, not the House race, that will drive turnout in November. He did not expect this campaign to have a major impact on the presidential election.
The race could be shaken up dramatically if the Wisconsin Supreme Court agrees to hear a redistricting case challenging legislative boundaries. Barry Burden, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin, said: The court has not announced whether it will hear the challenge.
The State Board of Elections says new boundaries in the congressional redistricting case need to be set by March 15 to meet a deadline for candidates running this November. Stated.
