Former Dino Stop gas station chain owner Tony Wied has received an endorsement from former President Trump in his bid for the Wisconsin congressional seat currently held by Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher. Wied is expected to enter a highly competitive Republican primary, joining state Sen. André Jacque and former state Sen. Roger Roth. Gallagher’s district, which includes Green Bay, Appleton, and rural northeastern Wisconsin, typically votes Republican, making the primary winner the favorite in the general election.
Wied, who owned six Dino Stop gas stations and convenience stores, was expected to announce his candidacy for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District after receiving Trump’s endorsement. Two other Republicans and one Democrat have already announced their candidacies for the seat, which became vacant when Gallagher retired early. The primary is scheduled for August 13th. Wied, who attended Trump’s rally in Green Bay, is set to officially enter the race at an event in Green Bay on Monday night.
Despite not yet being officially in the race, Trump posted his endorsement of Wied on social media, with Wied planning to run on a platform of supporting American energy, stopping inflation, securing the border, supporting the military and veterans, and protecting the Second Amendment. Trump called on Roger Roth, a former state senator who endorsed Trump for his run for Congress, to drop out of the race. Roth, a veteran, has received endorsements from former Gov. Scott Walker and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, committing to fight to preserve and protect what makes America great.
Republican state Sen. André Jacque, of De Pere, is also running in the Republican primary for Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District, alongside Dr. Kristin Lyerly, who is the only announced Democratic candidate. Another potential Republican candidate, GOP consultant Alex Bruesewitz, decided not to run after meeting Wied, whom he considered a strong candidate. Bruesewitz will be advising on Wied’s campaign. Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District is a solidly Republican area, with Trump winning the district by 16 percentage points in 2020, despite losing the state by less than a point to President Joe Biden. Gallagher has won reelection multiple times by significant margins in the district, which includes both urban and rural areas in northeastern Wisconsin.
While the district reliably leans Republican, Democrats have vowed to make it competitive. The district encompasses Green Bay, Appleton, Door County, and rural areas north through Marinette. Wied’s entry into the race as a Trump-endorsed candidate adds another layer of competition to the primary, with key issues such as American energy, inflation, border security, and veterans’ support shaping the race. The campaign is expected to be closely watched amidst national interest in the former president’s endorsements and the potential impact on Republican candidates in the 2022 midterm elections.
