Early polling of the election to replace retiring Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI) shows Alex Bruesewitz — a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump — holding a commanding lead. Bruesewitz comes in at 36 percent, with State Sen. André Jacque at 15 percent, and Roger Roth — rumored to be backed by Gallagher — at 12 percent among Republican primary voters. An additional 36 percent of Wisconsin Republicans remained undecided.
The poll — conducted by the former Vivek Ramaswamy campaign pollster, Cygnal — indicates 64 percent of Republican primary voters in the district would prefer a candidate who wasn’t a career politician. This sentiment could favor Bruesewitz, who hasn’t held elected office before. Meanwhile, both Jacque and Roth have had long tenures as elected officials.
During his 2022 run for Lt. Governor, Roth — the son of former nine-term Congressman Toby Roth (R-WI) — declined to endorse former President Trump’s running again in 2024. Roth implied that if the former President ran, he’d divide the Republican Party and face stiff primary competition.
Gallagher announced he would retire early last week. According to the Wisconsin Republican, his retirement will take effect on April 19 — placing it too close to the general election for a special election to be held. The seat will remain empty then until November.
Responding to Gallagher’s underhanded decision to prevent a special election, Bruesewitz posted on X (formerly Twitter): “If Mike Gallagher doesn’t do the right thing and resign by April 2nd, the people of Wisconsin hope [Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene] introduces a resolution to EXPEL him from Congress!”
Several of Gallagher’s House Republican colleagues have floated the idea of moving to expel him from Congress before mid-April so that a special election can still be held.
If Mike Gallagher doesn’t do the right thing and resign by April 2nd, the people of Wisconsin hope @mtgreenee introduces a resolution to EXPEL him from Congress!
If he waits until April 19th, #WI08 will be left VOICELESS until January of next year!
CALL HIS OFFICE AND DEMAND HE… pic.twitter.com/Px0iHi4WJ8
— Alex Bruesewitz 🇺🇸 (@alexbruesewitz) March 24, 2024