Lyerly, Wied Vie for Wisconsin's 8th Congressional in 2024

Frederica Freyberg:
On the other side of the state, Republican businessman Tony Wied won a three-way primary in the 8th congressional district in northeast Wisconsin. Wied will face Democrat Kristin Lyerly in the November election. “Here & Now” reporter Aditi Debnath has more on the race.

Aditi Debnath:
Doctor Kristin Lyerly is a health care provider running for Congress in northeast Wisconsin.

Kristin Lyerly:
It’s not all that different, really. When someone comes to see me, they have a problem. Just like a constituent.

Aditi Debnath:
She’s running as a Democrat for a seat that’s been held by Republicans since 2011.

David Helpap:
It’s one of those districts that, it appears, I think, really solidly Republican, right? Because for the past ten years plus, there has been a Republican representative, but at the same time, it is not been really firmly set in stone. And the district really does vary.

Aditi Debnath:
Lyerly will face Republican businessman Tony Wied in the November election. Wied did not respond to multiple requests for an interview. However, in an audio interview with Wisconsin Public Radio, he said this on the primary election night.

Tony Wied:
We did a good job in this process and the voters made the decision. And I’m thankful for their call.

Aditi Debnath:
Tony Wied’s platform is largely based on his endorsement from former president Donald Trump. UW-Green Bay political scientist David Helpap says the Trump endorsement was critical in Wied’s primary win.

David Helpap:
The question is, will it provide help in that general election? Because what we’ve seen with some other races is the Trump endorsement can really help in the primary but it might be less so in the general election.

Aditi Debnath:
National politics could also play a role in Lyerly’s campaign now that Democrats are rallying around Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s presidential nominee.

David Helpap:
Maybe Lyerly can ride that as well, right? To use that enthusiasm to say, “Hey, this is where we’re going as a party. This is where we’re going as a country. I can be your local representative of that.”

Aditi Debnath:
Lyerly’s campaign emphasizes her role as an ob-gyn. She focuses on issues like abortion access and rural health care.

Kristin Lyerly:
We don’t have enough doctors in rural areas, and we’re not doing enough to address that. Add on top of that, complex abortion bans like what we’ve seen in Wisconsin. We know the data shows that that affects the number of doctors that we train.

Aditi Debnath:
In a debate ahead of the primary, Wied said his health care policy includes reducing federal spending on Medicare.

Tony Wied:
We’re seeing health care companies continue to merge. And what’s happening there, and we see it, you know, whenever there is less competition, you’re going to continue to have higher prices. And that’s a big concern for me. So we need to dig into that. We need more competitiveness.

Aditi Debnath:
The candidates contrast on most issues, including economic policy.

Tony Wied:
We need to find additional ways for companies and businesses to grow and more tax incentives. So I will be an advocate for our businesses. That’s the driver of our economy here in district eight.

Kristin Lyerly:
There aren’t enough child care providers, paid family and medical leave. All of these things will help people as we are trying to further our economy.

Aditi Debnath:
Lyerly is paying close attention to the district’s swing voters, which she’ll need to win the general election.

Kristin Lyerly:
There’s always that nugget of shared values where you can start and grow out from there. I never start from are you a Republican or a Democrat? It doesn’t make any sense and it doesn’t get you anywhere.

Aditi Debnath:
Leading up to November, Helpap says both candidates have work to do activating voters in their district.

David Helpap:
For him in particular, getting out there and telling people who he is, what his policies are, even if they are very aligned with the former president, still getting people to know that. And for her really pushing those issues that she thinks can motivate people and not just talking to the folks that would sort of naturally vote for a Democratic candidate.

Aditi Debnath:
Wied and Lyerly will each be on the ballot twice on November 5th for the general election and the special election, which determines who will finish the rest of former U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher’s term after his resignation earlier this year. Reporting from Green Bay, I’m Aditi Debnath for “Here & Now.”