Voters in Menasha make their way to the UW Oshkosh Fox Cities campus to cast their ballots. April 2, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Residents in the 8th Congressional District will vote twice in the same election to fill the seat formerly held by U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher — once to fill the last two months of his term, and once for the next, full, two-year-term in the House of Representatives.
Gallagher resigned from the seat April 19.
Because of the timing of the resignation, Gov. Tony Evers was required by law to call a special election to fill the seat until the current session ends at noon on Jan. 3, 2025, which he did Tuesday. Additionally, state law prescribes that election will be held concurrently with the usual fall cycle of an Aug. 13 primary and Nov. 5 general election.
The law at issue, as described by Gov. Evers’ office:
Wis. Stat. 17.18 specifies that vacancies in the office of U.S. senator or representative in congress shall be filled by election for the remainder of the term as provided in s. 8.50 (4) (b). Wis. Stat. 8.50(4)(b) provides that vacancies in the office of a U.S. Senator or U.S. Representative occurring between the second Tuesday in April and the second Tuesday in May in the year of a general election shall be filled at the partisan primary and general election, with s. 8.50(2)(b) providing that when the special election is held concurrently with the general election the special primary shall be held on the same day as the partisan primary.
That means someone could run just to serve for the two months at the end of year, or they could run for both. Additionally, there could be different winners for the two different races. But both the special election and regularly scheduled general election will appear on the same ballots.
So far, three Republicans are running: former State Sen. Roger Roth, state Sen. Andre Jacque, and former convenience store owner Tony Wied. The only announced Democrat is Kristin Lyerly.
Nomination papers for the special election are due June 1. Nomination papers for the general election are due June 3.
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