Gallagher Wins GOP Congressional Race

Mike Gallagher

With about a quarter of the votes counted, Mike Gallagher had a commanding 70 percent of the vote in the three-way Republican primary for the 8th District Congressional seat being vacated by three-term Congressman Reid Ribble, who endorsed Gallagher’s candidacy.

“Now the real work begins,” Gallagher said in a statement. “We’re going to build off tonight’s momentum and continue to spread my common-sense conservative vision to voters across the district. We are going to fight every single second until November to take our government back from the career politicians, and once again make it a government that works for We the People.”

Gallagher, a former Marine with a PhD and adviser to Gov. Scott Walker, will go on to face Democrat Tom Nelson, county executive of Outagamie County, in the Nov. general election.

Gallagher easily defeated 1st District State Senator Frank Lasee and Village of Forestville President Terry McNulty.

The vote for Gallagher in Door County was 2,354, or 63.19 percent of the vote, compared to Lasee’s 770 votes (20.67 percent) and McNulty’s 594 votes (15.95 percent).

Upon announcement of Gallagher’s blowout, Wisconsin’s 1st District Congressman and House Speaker Paul Ryan released a statement: “Mike Gallagher will be part of the next generation of conservative leaders and I look forward to campaigning with him this fall in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. As a Marine veteran, Mike understands precisely what it takes to serve our nation and he knows what is required to uphold and defend the freedoms we all cherish. Mike’s knowledge and experience on national security issues will allow him to be a critical voice in the next Congress starting on his first day in office. Mike will help us advance solutions to the challenges we face and work tirelessly on behalf of all Wisconsinites – that is why I am committed to doing all I can to help him win in November.”