Who's In the Race

Republican Michael Alfonso faces Democrat Fred Clark in the Nov. 3 general election in Wisconsin's 7th District. The seat is open because Rep. Thomas P. Tiffany (R-WI) is not seeking reelection to the House and is instead running for governor. ​

Alfonso's campaign describes him as "raised right here" in the district and presents him as a conservative, "America First" candidate. Clark is a forester, land manager, and small-business owner who served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 50th District from 2009 to 2015, and his campaign credits him with 35 years of conservation work in Wisconsin. Clark won the Aug. 11 Democratic primary with about 37% of the vote, ahead of runner-up Ginger Murray, who received about 32%.

What They Stand For

Alfonso has proposed reining in spending and cutting red tape to make homeownership more attainable for young Americans, according to his campaign website. He's also supported lowering health care costs through greater transparency and prioritizing affordability, support for voter ID, and a pledge to protect the "sanctity of every Wisconsin vote." His campaign presents him as an "America First" candidate, and in a debate he described the choice in the race as "common sense versus crazy," according to Wisconsin Public Radio.

Clark has called for ending what his campaign terms "senseless tariff wars," restoring trade partnerships with allies and supporting rural economic stability, according to his campaign website. He's also supported requiring Medicare to negotiate with drug makers to lower prescription drug costs, treating mental health care on equal footing with physical health care, and working across party lines on issues affecting everyday people, which he described as an opportunity for Congress, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.

The Money Behind the Race

Through July 22, Alfonso had raised about $1.4 million and had about $663,000 in the bank, roughly four times as much cash as Clark, who had raised about $423,000 and had about $174,000 on hand, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Outside groups have spent about $2.2 million supporting Alfonso, with Northwoods Future PAC accounting for about $2.2 million of that total.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Cook Political Report rated the race Solid Republican as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball also rated it Solid Republican as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it Solid Republican as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Republicans a 95% chance of winning as of Oct. 14, while Democrats stood at 5%.

Republican Thomas P. Tiffany carried the district with about 62% of the vote in 2022 and about 64% in 2024. Republicans won six of Wisconsin's eight U.S. House seats in both 2022 and 2024. Donald Trump carried Wisconsin in the 2024 presidential race with about 50% of the vote.

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