Businessman Tony Wied won the Wisconsin 8th Congressional District Republican primary race last night with more than 40 percent of the vote. The Associated Press called the race at 10:35 p.m., declaring Wied the winner. With 99 percent of the votes counted, Wied had received 41.3 percent (41,937 votes), former State Senator Roger Roth 33.9 percent (34,344 votes), and State Senator Andre Jacque 24.8 percent (25,186 votes).
After announcing his candidacy, Wied was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, who criticized Wied’s primary opponent Roth in his endorsement, stating on Truth Social:
Tony is running against RINO Roger Roth, who is a “clone” of Paul Ryan, and no friend to MAGA — He should drop out of the Race NOW.
Shortly after conceding the race, Roth stated he would help Wied and other Wisconsin Republicans win in November, stating on X:
Tonight’s outcome wasn’t what we hoped for, but I am proud of the campaign we ran in #WI08. My family and I are so grateful for all those who supported us and stood up for conservative principles. I look forward to helping @TonyWied and all WI Republicans win this Fall.
Jacque congratulated Wied in his concession announcement, and wished Wied success against Lyerly, in statement posted on X:
We were dramatically outspent and faced some ultimately insurmountable disadvantages, but we were not outworked. Congratulations to Tony Wied as he moves forward as the Republican nominee, and I wish him success in defeating Kristin Lyerly this November.
After defeating Jacque and Roth in the Republican primary, Wied will now face Democratic candidate Kristin Lyerly in November to determine who will fill the U.S. House WI-08 vacancy left by former Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.).
Lyerly, who ran uncontested in the Democratic primary, is an OB-GYN physician who has campaigned primarily on restoring federal law legalizing abortion, citing her experience as an abortion provider across northeast Wisconsin, stating on X:
My name is Kristin Lyerly. I’m the OB-GYN whose name is on the judgment that overturned Wisconsin’s 1849 criminal abortion ban. I’m also the mom of 4 boys, a sixth generation Wisconsinite, and the Democratic nominee for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th who will fight to restore our reproductive rights, ensure accessible health care, and build an economy that works for all of us.
In a statement made to the Associated Press, Lyerly said she would focus on the abortion issue if elected, stating, “I will work tirelessly to ensure that every woman in our state has access to reproductive care, including safe and legal abortions, essential services like maternity care, and mental health support.” Speaking with Wisconsin Public Radio, Lyerly noted her career as a physician in WI-08, stating, “I know the people here, I have taken care of the people here who have had complicated pregnancies, who have sought contraception and abortion care.”
