Who's In the Race

The Post-Crescent reported Oct. 7 that five candidates are running for Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District seat, and that their published answers differ on living costs and federal taxes. ​

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) is the incumbent in a race with five active candidates on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Before Congress, Grothman served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate, including as Assistant Majority Leader, and practiced estate-planning and probate law.

The Democratic primary results are still being counted, but Brad Smith led with about 30,104 votes over Amanda Bell's 28,799. Smith is a Mequon-based business consultant and Army National Guard veteran who served from 2000 to 2008, including an overseas deployment. Grothman won the Republican primary with 63,462 votes, and the results are certified.

Other candidates include Matthew Arndt (Green Party), Elizabeth Fitzgibbon (Independent), and Mike Thurow (Independent).

What They Stand For

On his campaign website, Smith has supported raising the minimum wage, expanding apprenticeships and rewarding companies that create jobs in the United States; he wants to lower health care costs, protect coverage for pre-existing conditions and keep care accessible in rural communities and cities.

Smith supports expanding access to technical schools, trades and lifelong learning; he calls for transparency and safeguards for large data-center developments to protect water, the power grid and local communities; and he supports universal background checks, red flag laws and secure storage as gun-safety measures.

Thurow, on his campaign platform, has proposed lowering everyday costs through stronger oversight of utilities, pharmaceuticals and essential goods. He's also supported Medicare negotiating all drug prices and capping prices for drugs developed with taxpayer funds; he has called for a federal Right to Repair law covering farm equipment, electronics and cars.

He has said he would push for the PRO Act, stronger labor-law enforcement and protection of pensions; and he has said new data centers should "pay their own way," including covering energy use and providing transparency about water consumption.

Fitzgibbon, on her campaign website, has said she will work with anyone "serious about lowering costs, protecting individual rights, and restoring accountability." Arndt, on his campaign site, has called for breaking up monopolies, supported Medicare for All, opposed "endless wars," and called for restrictions on AI data centers.

The Money Behind the Race

Federal Election Commission filings show Grothman raised about $929,000 through July 22 and had about $830,000 in the bank, with about $139,000 in debt. Smith raised about $166,000 through July 22 and had about $60,000 on hand. Thurow raised about $170,000 through July 22 and had about $63,000 in the bank.

Outside spending in the race totals just $18.89 as of Oct. 8, all of it backing Smith, spent by Grassroots North Shore.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Cook Political Report rated the race "Solid Republican" as of Sept. 25; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it "Solid Republican" as of Sept. 29; and Inside Elections rated it "Solid Republican" as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Republicans, whose nominee is Grothman, a 92.76 percent chance of winning as of Oct. 8, compared with 7.24 percent for Democrats.

Grothman carried the district with about 95 percent of the vote in 2022 and about 61 percent in 2024. Republicans held six of Wisconsin's eight U.S. House seats after both the 2022 and 2024 elections. Donald Trump carried Wisconsin in the 2024 presidential race with about 50 percent of the vote.

Wisconsin voters have several options for casting their ballots. Online and mail voter registration closes Wednesday, Oct. 14, and in-person registration at a clerk's office closes Friday, Oct. 30, at 5 p.m. or close of business, whichever is later; same-day registration is available at polling places during Election Day voting hours.

Mail-ballot applications are due by Thursday, Oct. 29 at 5 p.m., according to the Wisconsin Examiner voter guide. Early in-person voting in Wisconsin runs from Tuesday, Oct. 20, through Sunday, Nov. 1, but hours are not set statewide and vary by municipality. Polls on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

---

AllCiv makes it easy to stay politically informed and involved.

---

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article