Wisconsin's 8th congressional district
U.S. House district for Wisconsin
Wisconsin's 8th congressional district Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative Vacant
Area 9,740.44 sq mi (25,227.6 km2 ) Distribution Population (2023) 741,712 Median household income $75,932[ 1] Ethnicity Cook PVI R+10[ 2]
Wisconsin's 8th congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in northeastern Wisconsin . It officially has been vacant since 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 ]
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
#
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
List of members representing the district
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 &
Brown County
all of Brown County except the town of Morrison
Oneida County
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 – present
118th
Recent election results
2002 district boundaries (2002–2011)
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)
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)
See also
References
^ "My Congressional District: Congressional District 8 (118th Congress), Wisconsin" . United States Census Bureau .
^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List" . Cook Political Report . Retrieved January 5, 2023 .
^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 2, 2002. p. 6. Retrieved April 10, 2022 .
^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2004. p. 6. Retrieved September 23, 2021 .
^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2006 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 5, 2006. p. 6. Retrieved September 23, 2021 .
^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2008. p. 4. Retrieved September 23, 2021 .
^ 2010 Fall General Election Results Summary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board . October 4, 2010. p. 5. Retrieved September 23, 2021 .
^ 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 .
^ Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board . November 26, 2014. p. 5. Retrieved September 23, 2021 .
^ Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission . December 22, 2016. p. 5. Retrieved September 23, 2021 .
^ Canvass Results for 2018 General Election - 11/6/2018 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission . February 22, 2019. p. 5. Retrieved September 23, 2021 .
^ 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 .
^ 2022 General Election Results (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission . November 8, 2022. p. 1. Retrieved April 20, 2024 .
External links
44°49′53″N 87°56′13″W / 44.83139°N 87.93694°W / 44.83139; -87.93694