8th District Republicans criticize Mike Gallagher's early departure from Congress

NEW LONDON – Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher’s decision to leave Congress before the end of his term is drawing criticism from a key group: the Republicans wishing to replace him.

The two Republicans running to fill Gallagher’s open seat and a third teasing a bid pushed back this weekend on Gallagher’s announcement that he will leave Congress by April 19 instead of finishing out his term — a move that will leave the seat vacant until the next election.

“I’m disappointed. I think he should have finished out his term,” former state Sen. Roger Roth, who declared his candidacy for the 8th Congressional District hours after Gallagher said in February he wouldn’t seek reelection, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I think it’s unfortunate because it leaves a vacancy in Congress at, obviously, what could be a critical time,” Roth added, noting the slim one-vote majority Republicans hold with Gallagher’s departure. 

“My feeling is that it’s good to have full representation for the district as soon as possible,” state Sen. Andre Jacque, the other declared GOP candidate, said in a brief interview. “So I would certainly be in favor of a special election.” 

And the Donald Trump-aligned consultant Alex Bruesewitz, who is signaling a potential campaign announcement for April 8, accused Gallagher of deliberately vacating the seat to hurt Republicans — a claim Gallagher’s office rejected. 

The remarks from Republicans seeking to succeed the fourth term Green Bay Republican reflect just a piece of the criticism Gallagher has received from base voters in the party in the wake of his planned retirement from Congress. 

Gallagher, who chairs the high-profile select committee on China, received intense scrutiny from his party’s right flank in February after voting against impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and he announced his retirement just days later. His decision Friday to depart before the end of his term has only intensified that ire as some on the right see the move as deliberate to keep Republicans’ House majority slim. 

Under Wisconsin law, a congressional seat vacated before April 2 of the election year would trigger a special election. Since Gallagher is planning to leave office April 19, there would be no special election to replace him, and his seat would rather be filled in the next general election in November. 

“I want you to know that this is deliberate,” Bruesewitz said at a GOP dinner in New London Saturday night. “This is the swamp and the RINOs’ way to backstab their constituents and the Republican voters one last time.”

He drew applause from the crowd, including Jacque, when he demanded Gallagher resign before April 2 to trigger a special election.  

Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said last week Gallagher “should be expelled if he refuses to leave immediately in order to allow his district to hold a special election,” and Bruesewitz said he hopes Greene would move to expel Gallagher should he not resign earlier.

An aide to Greene did not respond to Journal Sentinel questions about her plans. 

Gallagher’s office, meanwhile, labeled false the claims that his departure was a deliberate attempt to hurt Republicans, who will temporarily have just a one-seat majority after April 19, further complicating their ability to pass their agenda. 

A spokesman for Gallagher told the Journal Sentinel that Gallagher’s move was a family decision and said House leadership had been aware of his plans for weeks and approved the timeline. 

Democrats have painted the departure of Gallagher, largely seen as a pragmatic lawmaker, as an example of the dysfunction within the Republican conference on Capitol Hill as the party shifts to the right. Asked about Gallagher's early exit, Kristin Lyerly, a De Pere OB-GYN and Democrat considering a run for the seat, said it was "a personal decision for him and his family."

Other Republicans have defended Gallagher as a thoughtful lawmaker who cared about his district. “He was a hard worker, he paid attention to the district,” said Brandon Scholz, a retired Republican strategist. “All those things that you check off when you talk about how a member of Congress works either in D.C. or back in the district.” 

Still, Gallagher’s move has rankled some in the northeastern Wisconsin district.

The chairmen of the Waupaca and Oconto County Republican parties told the Journal Sentinel they are talking with other district chairs about sending a request to House Speaker Mike Johnson to expel Gallagher.

And Trump-aligned Republicans like Bruesewitz and Greene continue to be particularly vocal in their criticisms. 

Bruesewitz has not formally declared his candidacy for the 8th District but has strongly hinted at a run as he’s called northeastern Wisconsin “MAGA country,” referencing Trump’s Make America Great Again slogan.

Bruesewitz has leaned heavily on his connections to Trump and received the backing of Trump associates Roger Stone and Steve Bannon. He said that he’d have the backing of Trump’s MAGA movement should he jump in. 

On Saturday, he told a crowd of about 100 Republicans in Waupaca County that he’d have a “fun announcement” on April 8th in Green Bay that could include “some special guests.” He told listeners he’d “obviously love and appreciate” their support if he runs. 

“We’re gonna get rid of this guy and we’re gonna replace him with somebody that will represent your values and make sure that they always put our country first,” he said.