Crosse for "Here& Now" I'm Steven Potter on the other side
of the state, Republican businessman Tony Wied won a
three way primary in the eighth congressional district in
northeast Wisconsin. >> Weid will face Democrat
Kristin Lyerly in the November election. Here and now. Reporter
Aditi Debnath has more on the race.
>> Doctor Kristin Lyerly is a health care provider running for
Congress in Northeast Wisconsin. >> It's not all that different,
really. When someone comes to see me, they have a problem.
Just like a constituent. >> She's running as a Democrat
for a seat that's been held by Republicans since 2011.
>> It's one of those districts that, it appears, I think,
really solidly Republican. Right. Because for the past ten
years plus, there has been a Republican representative, but
really firmly set in stone. And the district really does vary.
>> Lyerly will face Republican businessman Tony Wied in the
November election. Wied did not respond to multiple requests for
an interview. However. In an audio interview with Wisconsin
Public Radio, he said this on the primary election night.
>> We did a good job in this process and the voters made the
decision. And, I'm thankful for their call.
largely based on his endorsement from former President Donald
Trump. UW green Bay political scientist David Helpap says the
Trump endorsement was critical in Weed's primary win.
>> The question is, will it provide help in that general
election? Because what we've seen with some other races is
the Trump endorsement can really help in the primary. But it
might be less so in the general election.
>> National politics could also play a role in Lyerly campaign.
Now that Democrats are rallying around vice President Kamala
Harris, the party's presidential nominee, maybe Lyerly can ride
that as well, right? >> To use that enthusiasm to
say, hey, this is where we're going as a party. This is where
we're going as a country. I can be your local representative of
that Lyerly campaign emphasizes her role as an ob gyn.
>> She focuses on issues like abortion access and rural health
care. in rural areas, and we're not
doing enough to address that add on top of that, complex abortion
bans like what we've seen in Wisconsin, we know the data
shows that that affects the number of doctors that we train
in a debate ahead of the primary, Weid said his health
care policy includes reducing federal spending on Medicare.
>> We're seeing, health care companies continue to merge. And
what's happening there, and we see it, you know, whenever there
is less competition, you're going to continue to have higher
prices. And that's a big concern for me. So we need to dig into
that. We need more competitiveness.
>> The candidates contrast on most issues, including economic
policy. ways for companies and
businesses to grow and more tax incentives. And so I will be an
advocate for our businesses. That's the driver of our economy
here in district eight. >> There aren't enough child
care providers, paid family and medical leave. All of these
things will help people as we are trying to further our
economy. attention to the district's
swing voters, which she'll need to win the general election.
>> There's always that nugget of shared values where you can
start and grow out from there. I never start from are you a
Republican or a Democrat? It doesn't make any sense and it
doesn't get you anywhere. >> Leading up to November,
Helpap says both candidates have work to do, activating voters in
their district. >> For him in particular,
getting out there and telling people who he is, what his
policies are, even if they are very aligned with the former
president, still getting people to know that. And for her really
pushing those issues that she thinks can motivate people and
not just talking to the folks that would sort of naturally
vote for a Democratic candidate. >> Weid and Lyerly will each be
on the ballot twice on November fifth for the general election
and the special election, which determines who will finish the
rest of former U.S. representative Mike Gallagher's
earlier this year. Reporting earlier this year. Reporting