MADISON, Wis. — In the wake of U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher announcing his retirement over the weekend, his predecessor in the seat — former U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble — discussed with News 3 Now the legacy of Gallager's tenure and what the future will hold for Wisconsin Republicans.
News 3 Now: For those who are unfamiliar, what is the 8th Congressional District like?
Former U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble: Well, it's changed. I mean, it is it has clearly shifted a bit to the right like a lot of rural areas in Wisconsin. You've got Democratic strongholds in the cities of Appleton and Green Bay, and some up in Door County, Wisconsin. But everything else is very rural. So it's a pretty bright red district. I think President Trump won it by double digits last election. And so it's it's, it's a pretty read it's pretty Republican place.
N3N: What kind of a politician was Gallagher?
RR: He was a really good one. I was very proud of Mike Gallagher and his work. He's a very pragmatic guy. He's a very likable man. And even if you come at him with opposing views, whether from the right or the left, he was always willing to engage in and try to find some common ground, both with constituents and with colleagues in Washington. And very, very impressive. Very, very impressive guy.
N3N: Why do you think he made the decision now? Did it have anything to do with his vote against impeaching Homeland Security Sec. Mayorkas?
RR: Well, I actually think you don't make a decision like that in two or three days, you don't make a decision like that based on a single vote, or a little bit of heat that you get from constituents. My guess is that this decision was made weeks or months ago. And he had determined early that he would be announcing sometime early in February to give primary candidates, particularly Republican candidates a chance to raise some money and be ready to campaign in the fall. There was no need for him to announce earlier. But I think waiting much longer would have hurt the chances of a Republican to win up there. And so I think he made the choice based on that I don't think I personally don't think that Mayorkas vote had anything to do with him, announcing that he wasn't going to run again.
N3N: What do you think will be in the future for him?
RR: You know, I think just from my personal relationship with Mike and I consider him a good friend of mine. Mike has a real interest very interested in foreign affairs, international policy, that's what his PhD is in. And I think he wants to engage in that space in government. So it wouldn't surprise me if he became a contractor for the Department of Defense or work at NSA or something like that. Some place where you can use his intelligence bona fides to help the country in that regard. He may come back and run for something at some point. He's young guy, he's only 40 years old. But I think with young kids, he's looking for a more stable calendar and schedule that you don't get if you're an elected official.
N3N: Who could we see run in his place?
RR: Well, certainly, former Senator Roger Roth has already announced that he's going to to run in the primary to try to become the nominee for that position. Totally capable candidate, totally capable as a Wisconsin Senator, he knows the process. He was both in the Wisconsin assembly and in Wisconsin State Senate. So he knows how government works, he certainly would be a strong candidate there. It wouldn't surprise me if Senator Andre Jacque jumps in the race. I've been called I can't disclose who they are. But two or three local business leaders have called me to talk to me about how I was able to navigate it without political experience. And so I would anticipate a primary with maybe three to five Republicans running for it. But I also think in an open seat, this will also inspire some Democrats to get in that otherwise might not have looked at it. Nobody was really going to take on Gallagher he was unbeatable up there. And so but now with the open seat, there's an opportunity for Democrat, particularly if Wisconsin primary voters up there in the 8th, pick a very hard, MAGA type of candidate that's just fully kind of in bed with Trump, I think that could open up a pathway for a Democrat to run a very competitive race.
N3N: Would you plan to endorse in the race?
RR: I don't know that my endorsement does much good and might actually hurt some people. And so if a particular candidate called and asked for my endorsement, I certainly would be willing to talk talk it through with them. I probably would be unwilling to endorse somebody, if they would say, "I would vote for Donald Trump, even if he's convicted." That that's a red line for me. I'm not going to support anybody who would support a felon, you know, so, but we'll wait and see what the field looks like.
N3N: There's also a Republican primary for U.S. Senate to face Tammy Baldwin, would the 8th CD be an easier race for a prospective GOP candidate?
RR: Oh, way easier, it's almost impossible to take out an incumbent. I mean, it can be done. Ron Johnson defeated Russ Feingold but that is super rare. I mean, super rare. And so it would be way easier to win a congressional seat in an open race than to try to take on it and established incumbent. And Tammy Baldwin, who whether you agree with their policies or not, she's well liked around the state. She's well liked up in Green Bay. She works hard for Wisconsin, and she would be a very, very formidable candidate for any Republican to take on. In a state like Wisconsin, which truly is statewide — it's a purple state. And so that would be a tough race. It can be done, depending on what happens at the top of the ticket. If I'll tell you right now, if Nikki Haley was at the top of the ticket in the fall, instead of Donald Trump, Tammy Baldwin would would be beatable. Because Nikki Haley would win Wisconsin big. Donald Trump might win Wisconsin if he does even win it at all by just a few thousand votes. So there's not going to be any pull through with Trump to help any of these congressional seats.
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