GREEN BAY, Wis. — The winner of the Republican primary for the 8th Congressional District, Trump-endorsed candidate Tony Wied, will face the sole Democrat on the ticket in November, Dr. Kristin Lyerly.
Lyerly ran uncontested in the August primary. That meant she automatically advances to the November general election, which will determine who will take over that district’s open seat from January 2025 through 2027.
Mike Gallagher vacated the seat in April.
She also advances automatically in the special election, which will determine who will fill Gallagher’s seat for the rest of his current term, through Jan. 3, 2025.
An OBGYN and sixth-generation Wisconsinite, Lyerly has focused her campaign primarily around abortion rights. Lyerly would be the first woman elected to this seat and the first Democrat in 14 years.
Spectrum News Anchor Megan Carpenter spoke with Lyerly about how she plans to connect with voters in the 8th Congressional District’s most rural counties:
Dr. Lyerly, this particular district has been Republican for a very long time, over 10 years at this point. How do you plan to change that?
Lyerly: I wouldn’t say a very long time and I would also keep in mind that it’s flipped back-and-forth 15 times. In this district, people are famously independent, so our strategy is to get out and talk to people here. People haven’t been heard in a long time, so we’re working with the Senate candidates, the Assembly candidates and even Senator Tammy Baldwin to make sure people have their voices heard.
Some would say 14 years is a long time for a Democrat to have been elected.
Lyerly: But that includes a big chunk of time where we had gerrymandered maps. Green Bay was split up into three separate Senate districts. There are two Democrats currently representing this area. That’s not who these people are and they’re letting us know loud and clear. You can hear it in the background.
This particular district is quite large as well and incorporates a lot of rural areas of this part of the state too. How do you plan to get those votes in those areas that are more Republican? We’re talking about outside of Green Bay and outside of Appleton.
Lyerly: We’re doing the work. We’re spending a lot of time in those areas. We were out last night in Algoma doing a town hall. We’ve done town halls in Shawano. We’ve been up to Marinette. I was in Oconto over the weekend. I’m getting out, having conversations, and it’s not just us because we’re working together. We have surrogates, we’ve got those other candidates who are knocking on doors, talking about what we’re talking about. This is such a collaborative, beautiful community building effort, and that’s what’s going to bring it home. People want to come together, they’re tired of fear and division and they want hope and change.
Anything else you’d like to add, anything else you are looking forward to, or how you’re feeling?
Lyerly: I truly believe that this district, given the enthusiasm, given the candidates, given the fact that it’s an open seat in the swingiest district of the swingiest state during the most consequential election of our lifetime, this district could become the national referendum on abortion.
Lyerly's Campaign Manager Madeleine Buchholz-Kneeland released the following statement reacting to Wied winning the Republican primary:
“Phony Tony Wied isn’t going to drain the swamp in DC, he is the swamp. In fact, Tony Wied lobbied to raise gas prices, hurting working families, pocketing more for himself and his rich friends."
“The Lyerly Campaign looks forward to a debate between Phony Tony Wied and Dr. Lyerly. We just hope Tony isn’t too scared when his special interest friends aren’t there to help him out," she added.