MADISON – Republican candidates in Wisconsin’s contested 7th Congressional District far out-raised their Democratic competitors in the first quarter of the year, according to new campaign finance reports filed this week.
Seven candidates are vying to succeed U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is running for governor, with Ashland lawyer Paul Wassgren, a Republican, leading the fund-raising pack through a largely self-funded campaign.
Both parties feature contested primaries in the district. Tiffany carried the district heavily Republican district by more than 25 percentage points in 2024.
The 7th Congressional District is the state’s largest in terms of land and covers much of central and northern Wisconsin.
Voters will head to the polls on Aug. 11 for the primary elections and Nov. 3 for the general election.
Here’s how much the candidates have raised so far in the race, with the newest figures covering fundraising from Jan. 1 to March 31.
Republican Paul Wassgren
Wassgren raised nearly $1.8 million in the first quarter of the year, $1.7 million of which was from himself. In total, his campaign has brought in about $3.4 million, of which $3.2 million has been self-funded.
He spent about $1.5 million this quarter, and ended with about $1.7 million on hand.
Republican Michael Alfonso
Alfonso, who earlier won the endorsement of President Donald Trump, raised about $600,000 in the period, bringing his total fundraising to about $914,000.
He spent about $149,000, and ended the quarter with about $732,000 on hand.
Alfonso is the son in law of Sean Duffy, the former congressman for the district and current U.S. transportation secretary in the Trump administration. Duffy has helped Alfonso raise funds for the race, including from lobbyists with ties to the transportation industry.
Alfonso is married to Duffy’s daughter Evita.
Republican Jessi Ebben
Ebben, a public relations professional, raised nearly $81,000, bringing her total fundraising to about $402,000.
She spent about $47,000 this quarter, and ended with nearly $300,000 on hand.
Ebben previously ran in the 3rd Congressional District in 2020, against U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, but lost in the Republican primary.
Republican Nina Baum
Baum, the newest entrant to the race this spring, raised about $59,000.
She spent about $58,000 during the quarter, and ended with about $1,300 on hand.
Baum said she doesn’t plan to take money from political action committees or outside interests, and plans to hit the campaign trail in the second quarter to to start raising funds from supporters.
“Seeing the amount of money pouring into this race is honestly concerning. It raises a real question about who some of these candidates will answer to once they get to Washington,” she said in an emailed statement.
“I also know I can do more with less. I’m resourceful, I’m creative, and I’ve built this campaign from the ground up without political connections or major donors.”
Republican Kevin Hermening
Hermening, the former chair of the Marathon County GOP, raised about $57,000, bringing his total fundraising to just over $1 million.
He spent about $190,000 during the quarter, and ended with about $868,000 on hand.
In a statement, Hermening’s spokesman Brian Christianson pointed out that “real roots” in the 7th Congressional District matter.
Hermening is a U.S. Marine veteran who was held hostage during the 1979 Iran crisis.
“People know Kevin. They know he’s hugely patriotic,” Christianson said in an emailed statement.
“It’s why they are supporting Kevin with their local dollars. The bottom is, there is no substituting local dollars for DC lobby money. Locals see what is being packaged and sold. It’s artificial flavoring.”
Democrat Fred Clark
Clark, a former state Assembly representative, raised about $112,000, bringing his total fundraising to about $275,000.
The Democrat spent $70,461 in the most recent reporting period, and ended March with about $157,000.
Democrat Chris Armstrong
Armstrong, an IT business owner, raised about $11,000, bringing his total fundraising to about $31,000.
He spent about $21,000 this quarter, and ended with about $3,300 on hand.
Democrat Ginger Murray
Murray, the former city attorney of Crandon, raised about $6,000, bringing her fundraising total to about $115,000.
She spent about $29,000, and ended the quarter with about $84,000 on hand.
Murray in a statement also highlighted local donors, whose support she is working to gain.
“I’m grateful to my supporters to have the resources to be competitive at this stage of the campaign,” she said. “We continue to build on this momentum.”
Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Self-funded Republican tops the money race in Wisconsin’s 7th District
Reporting by Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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