The GOP's aim to defeat Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., next year suffered a setback last week when Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., announced he would not enter the race.

What You Need To Know

  • Gallagher put out a statement Friday, pointing to his work as the chairman of the House Select Committee on China as the reason for his decision not to runnext year suffered a setback last week when Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin announced he would not enter the race

  •  Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Republican from Wisconsin, told Spectrum News he is considering a run and will make a decision "probably over the summer"
  •  As of June 12, no Republicans have declared their candidacy for Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seat

Marquette Law School poll director Charles Franklin told Spectrum News that Gallagher's decision would allow him to raise his profile and run for the U.S. Senate down the road.

 "I think he is in good shape to hold [his current seat] in general elections and, barring an unexpected primary challenge, he should be in a good position to keep the seat [long term]," Franklin said.

"Also, if you look a little bit farther forward to the next Senate seat when Ron Johnson's third term will end, there's a good chance that Johnson will not seek an additional term, in which case it's an open seat that Gallagher would again be very well poised for," he added.

Gallagher put out a statement Friday, pointing to his work as the chairman of the House Select Committee on China as the reason for his decision not to run.

 "I have a rare, bipartisan opportunity in the 118th Congress to help restore American strength, prevent war in the Pacific, and defend our basic freedoms from communist aggression," he wrote.

Republicans, including former Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, thought Gallagher would pose a strong challenge to Baldwin.

"People like Congressman Mike Gallagher, Congressman Bryant Steil are both dynamic young leaders, both have become committee chairs in this new majority, and both, I think, are generally viewed as not just being favorable to Republicans but have also done very well with independents and even some discerning Democrats," Gov. Walker told Spectrum News in April.

While all three of Sen. Ron Johnson's, R-Wis., races have been close, Baldwin secured her second term by about 11 points, nearly 6 points higher than her first win.

Rep. Steil, R-Wis., announced he's not interested in running for Senate in 2024. 

Both Steil and Gallagher's refusal to enter the race leaves a few congressional Republicans left in the pool. 

"Tom Tiffany, the congressman from the 7th Congressional District, the north and western part of the state, has expressed interest," Franklin said. "He would be, in some ways, more comfortable in a fall campaign with Donald Trump at the top of the ticket. He's more conservative, and his district is a more pro-Trump district."

 He also listed others who may be viable candidates for the race. 

 Madison-based entrepreneur Eric Hovde pursued a Senate seat in 2012, coming close to securing the nomination, but has yet to run and has maintained a lower profile, Franklin said. 

 "David Clarke, a former sheriff, a strong Trump supporter from Milwaukee, who's also African-American, has been talking about running," he added. "But he has not run in a statewide office before. He would be that appeal to the very conservative, very Trumpian wing of the party."

The pollster also mentioned Scott Meyer, a businessman from Milwaukee with no experience running for office, has been "seriously considering announcing a run."

 Rep. Tiffany confirmed with Spectrum News that he will decide on a bid by August. The two-time incumbent congressman recently bought domain names, including TomTiffanyforSenate.com, which redirects to his current campaign page. 

 "We'll make that decision probably over the summer," Tiffany told Spectrum News in May.