WASHINGTON — Wisconsin Congressman Mike Gallagher, R-Green Bay, has been a rising star in the Republican Party. A Marine veteran and Princeton graduate from Green Bay, he chairs the high-profile special House Committee investigating China. But on Tuesday, he was one of only four House Republicans who voted against impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, sinking the resolution.
At first, three members voted against impeaching Mayorkas. A fourth, Utah Rep. Blake Moore, vice chair of the House Republican Conference, changed his vote from a yes to a no so the measure could be considered again at a later date.
“Mike Gallagher betrayed the Republican Party and the American people with his vote to side with Mayorkas,” said Alex Bruesewitz, a Trump ally and the CEO of X Strategies, a political consulting firm. “And I think that issue alone could help somebody win an election, whether it's me or somebody else that wants to challenge him.”
Bruesewitz said he’s now considering a run for Gallagher’s seat because of the Congressman’s impeachment vote.
“When I make the decision, I will be able to put a team in place incredibly quickly. I mean, I am in the political consulting industry. I know all of the best fundraisers, the best digital team, the best everything,” he said.
Roger Stone, Trump’s former campaign consultant, posted on social media that Bruesewitz would have the support of Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement if he enters the race.
Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Gallagher called Mayorkas’ performance a “disgrace” but that “incompetence doesn’t rise to the level of high crimes or misdemeanors.” He added, “impeachment not only would fail to resolve Mr. Biden’s border crisis but would also set a dangerous new precedent that would be used against future Republican administrations.”
Gallagher was unavailable for an interview with Spectrum News, but earlier this week he was asked whether he’s worried about blowback from his "no" vote.
"That can't be the north star that guides your votes,” he said.
“The political risk is very real here, because Congressman Gallagher has had a successful political career. But he, like any number of members of Congress, is vulnerable for a challenge within their own party,” said Anthony Chergosky, an assistant professor of political science at UW-La Crosse. “That's really the only way he could be defeated given the lack of a chance that he would be defeated by a Democrat.”
Bruesewitz was born in Wisconsin, but he now lives in Florida. He said he would return home if he decides to run. Gallagher has consistently won elections by wide margins, since his first campaign in 2016.