Wisconsin's 8th congressional district

Wisconsin's 8th congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in northeastern Wisconsin. It has been represented by Republican Tony Wied since November 12, 2024. It was previously vacant from April 24, 2024, following the effective date of the resignation of Mike Gallagher, a Republican. Gallagher won the open seat vacated by Reid Ribble who retired in 2016. It is also one of only two congressional districts to ever elect a Catholic priest, in the case of Wisconsin’s 8th, Robert John Cornell.[clarification needed]

Wisconsin's 8th congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Area9,740.44 sq mi (25,227.6 km2)
Distribution
  • 56.04% urban
  • 43.96% rural
Population (2023)741,712
Median household
income
$75,932[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+10[2]

The 8th District has leaned Republican throughout its history; seven Democrats have represented it since its creation, but none have served more than two terms. It became more of a swing seat in the 1990s. In 2004, Republican George W. Bush won 55 percent of the vote in the district, while in 2008, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.6 percent of the vote. The last Democrat to represent the district was Steve Kagen from 2007 to 2011. Since Kagen lost in the 2010 election, the seat has been held by Republicans, who have consistently won it by double-digit percent margins in each election to the seat since 2012 and won similarly in statewide elections. The only county in the current district to back the Democratic presidential candidate in the 2000, 2004, and 2016 elections was overwhelmingly Native American Menominee County, which has never voted Republican since its creation in 1960, and only Menominee and Door Counties voted Democratic in 2012 and 2020.

Counties and municipalities within the district

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# County Seat Population
9 Brown Green Bay 269,591
15 Calumet Chilton 52,539
29 Door Sturgeon Bay 30,369
61 Kewaunee Kewaunee 20,543
75 Marinette Marinette 41,875
78 Menominee Keshena 4,289
83 Oconto Oconto 39,356
87 Outagamie Appleton 191,545
115 Shawano Shawano 40,859
135 Waupaca Waupaca 51,570
139 Winnebago Oshkosh 171,623

Brown County

Allouez, Ashwaubenon, Bellevue, Denmark, De Pere, Green Bay, Hobart, Howard, Pulaski

Calumet County

Brillion, Chilton, Hilbert, Menasha, Potter, Sherwood, and Stockbridge.

Door County

Baileys Harbor, Brussels, Clay Banks, Egg Harbor, Ephraim, Forestville, Gardner, Gibraltar, Jacksonsport, Liberty Grove, Nasewaupee, Sevastopol, Sister Bay, Sturgeon Bay, Union, and Washington Island.

Kewaunee County

Algoma, Casco, Forestville, and Luxemburg.

Marinette County

Coleman, Crivitz, Marinette, Niagara, Peshtigo, Pound, and Wausaukee.

Menominee County

Menominee and Keshena.

Oconto County

Gillett, Lena, Oconto, Oconto Falls, and Suring.

Outagamie County

Appleton, Bear Creek, Black Creek, Combined Locks, Hortonville, Kaukauna, Kimberly, Little Chute, Nichols, Seymour, and Shiocton.

Shawano County

Aniwa, Birnamwood, Bonduel, Bowler, Cecil, Eland, Gresham, Mattoon, Shawano, Tigerton, and Wittenberg.

Waupaca County

Big Falls, Clintonville, Embarrass, Fremont, Iola, Manawa, Marion, New London, Ogdensburg, Scandinavia, Waupaca, and Weyauwega.

Winnebago County

Clayton (part) and Winchester.

Recent statewide election results

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Year Office Results
2000 President Bush 52% – 43%
2004 President Bush 55% – 44%
2008 President Obama 53% – 45%
2012 President Romney 51% – 48%
2016 President Trump 56% – 39%
2018 Governor Walker 56.5% – 41.6%
Senate Vukmir 51.5 – 48.5%
2020 President Trump 57% – 41%
2022 Governor Michels 56% – 43%
Senate Johnson 59% – 41%
2023 Supreme Kelly 52% – 48%

List of members representing the district

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Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history District
District established March 4, 1873
Alexander S. McDill
(Plover)
Republican March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
43rd Elected in 1872.
Lost re-election.
 
Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Juneau, Marathon, Marquette, Oconto, Polk, Portage, Shawano, & Wood counties (& Langlade, Lincoln, Marinette, Price, & Taylor counties created from this territory during the 1870s)
 
George W. Cate
(Stevens Point)
Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877
44th Elected in 1874.
Lost re-election.
 
Thaddeus C. Pound
(Chippewa Falls)
Republican March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1883
45th
46th
47th
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Retired.
 
William T. Price
(Black River Falls)
Republican March 4, 1883 –
December 6, 1886
48th
49th
Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Died.
 
Bayfield, Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, & Trempealeau counties
Vacant December 6, 1886 –
January 18, 1887
49th
 
Hugh H. Price
(Black River Falls)
Republican January 18, 1887 –
March 3, 1887
Elected to finish his father's term.
Retired.
 
Nils P. Haugen
(River Falls)
Republican March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1893
50th
51st
52nd
Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Redistricted to the 10th district.
 
Lyman E. Barnes
(Appleton)
Democratic March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1895
53rd Elected in 1892.
Lost re-election.
 
Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Outagamie, Portage, Waupaca, & Wood counties
 
Edward S. Minor
(Sturgeon Bay)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1903
54th
55th
56th
57th
Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Redistricted to the 9th district.
 
James H. Davidson
(Oshkosh)
Republican March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1913
58th
59th
60th
61st
62nd
Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Lost re-election.
 
Calumet, Manitowoc, Portage, Waupaca, Waushara, & Winnebago counties
 
Edward E. Browne
(Waupaca)
Republican March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1931
63rd
64th
65th
66th
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Lost renomination.
 
Marathon, Portage, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, & Wood counties
 
Gerald J. Boileau
(Wausau)
Republican March 4, 1931 –
March 3, 1933
72nd Elected in 1930.
Redistricted to the 7th district.
 
James F. Hughes
(De Pere)
Democratic March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935
73rd Elected in 1932.
Retired.
 
Brown, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Oconto, & Outagamie counties
 
George J. Schneider
(Appleton)
Progressive January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1939
74th
75th
Elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Lost re-election.
 
Joshua L. Johns
(Appleton)
Republican January 3, 1939 –
January 3, 1943
76th
77th
Elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Lost re-election.
 
LaVern Dilweg
(Green Bay)
Democratic January 3, 1943 –
January 3, 1945
78th Elected in 1942.
Lost re-election.
 
John W. Byrnes
(Green Bay)
Republican January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1973
79th
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
Elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
89th
90th
91st
92nd
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Retired.
 
Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Oconto, & Outagamie counties
 
Harold V. Froehlich
(Appleton)
Republican January 3, 1973 –
January 3, 1975
93rd Elected in 1972.
Lost re-election.
 
Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Vilas, & Waupaca counties &
most of Brown County & part of Oneida County
    • Brown County
      • all of Brown County except the town of Morrison
    • Oneida County
      • Town of Enterprise
 
Robert John Cornell
(De Pere)
Democratic January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1979
94th
95th
Elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Lost re-election.
 
Toby Roth
(Appleton)
Republican January 3, 1979 –
January 3, 1997
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
Elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Retired.
 
Brown, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, & Vilas counties &
    • Town of Cassian
    • Town of Hazelhurst
    • Town of Lake Tomahawk
    • Town of Little Rice
    • Town of Lynne
    • Town of Minocqua
    • Town of Newbold
    • Town of Nokomis
    • Town of Piehl
    • Town of Pine Lake
    • Town of Stella
    • Town of Sugar Camp
    • Town of Three Lakes
    • Town of Woodboro
    • Town of Woodruff
1993–2003
 
 
Jay Johnson
(Green Bay)
Democratic January 3, 1997 –
January 3, 1999
105th Elected in 1996.
Lost re-election.
 
Mark Green
(Green Bay)
Republican January 3, 1999 –
January 3, 2007
106th
107th
108th
109th
Elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Retired to run for Governor of Wisconsin.
2003–2013
 
 
Steve Kagen
(Appleton)
Democratic January 3, 2007 –
January 3, 2011
110th
111th
Elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Lost re-election.
 
Reid Ribble
(Sherwood)
Republican January 3, 2011 –
January 3, 2017
112th
113th
114th
Elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Retired.
2013–2023
 
 
Mike Gallagher
(Green Bay)
Republican January 3, 2017 –
April 24, 2024
115th
116th
117th
118th
Elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
Resigned.
2023–present
 
Vacant April 24, 2024 –
November 12, 2024
118th
119th
 
Tony Wied
(De Pere)
Republican November 12, 2024 –
present
Elected to finish Gallagher's term.
Re-elected in 2024.

Recent election results

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2002 district boundaries (2002–2011)

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Year Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2002[3] Nov. 5 Mark Green (inc) Republican 152,745 72.58% Andrew M. Becker Dem. 50,284 23.89% 210,447 102,461
Dick Kaiser Grn. 7,338 3.49%
2004[4] Nov. 2 Mark Green (inc) Republican 248,070 70.13% Dottie Le Clair Dem. 105,513 29.83% 353,725 142,557
2006[5] Nov. 7 Steve Kagen Democratic 141,570 50.90% John Gard Rep. 135,622 48.76% 278,135 5,948
2008[6] Nov. 4 Steve Kagen (inc) Democratic 193,662 54.00% John Gard Rep. 164,621 45.90% 358,647 29,041
2010[7] Nov. 2 Reid Ribble Republican 143,998 54.77% Steve Kagen (inc) Dem. 118,646 45.12% 262,938 25,352

2011 district boundaries (2012–2021)

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Year Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2012[8] Nov. 6 Reid Ribble (inc) Republican 198,874 55.95% Jamie Wall Dem. 156,287 43.97% 355,464 42,587
2014[9] Nov. 4 Reid Ribble (inc) Republican 188,553 65.01% Ron Gruett Dem. 101,345 34.94% 290,048 87,208
2016[10] Nov. 8 Mike Gallagher Republican 227,892 62.65% Tom Nelson Dem. 135,682 37.30% 363,780 92,210
Wendy Gribben (write-in) Grn. 16 0.00%
Jerry Kobishop (write-in) Dem. 2 0.00%
2018[11] Nov. 6 Mike Gallagher (inc) Republican 209,410 63.69% Beau Liegeois Dem. 119,265 36.28% 328,774 90,145
2020[12] Nov. 3 Mike Gallagher (inc) Republican 268,173 64.18% Amanda Stuck Dem. 149,558 35.79% 417,838 118,615

2022 district boundaries (2022–2031)

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Year Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2022[13] Nov. 8 Mike Gallagher (inc) Republican 223,981 72.21% Paul Boucher Independent 48,896 15.80% 310,196 175,085
Jacob VandenPlas Libertarian 32,057 10.30%
Julie Hancock (write-in) Dem. 3,160 1.02%
Robbie Hoffman (write-in) Dem. 135 0.04%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "My Congressional District: Congressional District 8 (118th Congress), Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau.
  2. ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  3. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 2, 2002. p. 6. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  4. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2004. p. 6. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2006 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 5, 2006. p. 6. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  6. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2008. p. 4. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  7. ^ 2010 Fall General Election Results Summary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. October 4, 2010. p. 5. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  8. ^ Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. November 6, 2012. p. 4. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  9. ^ Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. November 26, 2014. p. 5. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  10. ^ Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. p. 5. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  11. ^ Canvass Results for 2018 General Election - 11/6/2018 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. February 22, 2019. p. 5. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  12. ^ Canvass Results for 2020 Special Election Representative in Congress District 7 - 5/12/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. June 10, 2020. p. 1. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  13. ^ 2022 General Election Results (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 8, 2022. p. 1. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
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44°49′53″N 87°56′13″W / 44.83139°N 87.93694°W / 44.83139; -87.93694