Tony Wied wins reelection in 8th Congressional District

Republican U.S. Rep. Tony Wied defeated his Democratic challenger, former Green Bay school board member and U.S. Army veteran Rick Crosson in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. AP called the race at 10:01 p.m. with 72% of the vote counted. Wied won by a margin of 55.3% to 44.7% 

The Green Bay area district has been under Republican control since 2011, and this year it received less attention and investment from the national parties than Wisconsin’s more competitive 1st and 3rd CDs.

Two years ago, the seat was open after U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher left Congress. Democrats put significant resources into the campaign of Dr. Kristin Lyerly, an OB-GYN and an outspoken proponent of abortion rights. Lyerly lost to Wied by 15 points.

Wied, the former owner of gas stations in the Green Bay area, presented himself during his reelection campaign as a good-tempered representative who has worked to improve the lives of people in northeast Wisconsin through his constituent services. He has also been a reliable supporter of  President Donald Trump’s agenda in the House of Representatives. 

Wied acknowledged in an Oct. 22 debate that gas and diesel prices have risen because of the war Trump started in Iran, but said that “decisive action” in Iran was needed. He also defended his vote in favor of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cut billions in federal healthcare spending. He argued that the Affordable Care Act is responsible for pushing up medical costs and that he and other Republicans fought to bring federal money to rural hospitals. (The money sent to fund Wisconsin’s rural hospitals, but it’s far less than the shortfall they will face because of  the broader cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.)

As a member of the House Agriculture committee, Wied pointed to his work to get schools serving whole milk again and the passage of a 2026 farm bill by the House of Representatives as actions that he’s taken to help area farmers. 

Crosson accused Wied during the debate of avoiding his constituents by not holding any in-person town halls since he was elected. Wied responded that holding telephone town halls has helped him reach more constituents. He also said that holding town halls in person brings out a “left-wing mob.”