APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – State Representative Amanda Stuck (D) Appleton announced Sunday she is running for the District 8 congressional seat.
Republican incumbent Mike Gallagher currently serves the district in his second two-year term.
Energized by the last election where Democrats won all statewide elections, Stuck hopes to appeal to voters over healthcare.
The Democratic representative tells FOX 11 Wisconsinites are concerned about pre-existing conditions protection and wants to focus on making prescription costs affordable.
“People are terrified about what will happen if protections for pre-existing conditions go away. People are still struggling to afford healthcare and their medications. It’s something we here all the time, all around the state.”
Last November Republican congressman Mike Gallagher won with over 60% of the vote against his Democratic challenger.
When it comes to taking on such a challenge, Stuck says she can relate to Wisconsinites.
“I don’t have a wealthy background, I don’t come from a wealthy family. For me it’s about somebody who comes from a working background and a working family about making sure we have the resources we need to really get our message out there.”
FOX 11 reached out to Congressman Mike Gallagher’s office on Sunday, and although he wasn’t available for an interview he did release the following statement.
“Since coming to Congress, I have spent every day working tirelessly to deliver results for hard-working families and job creators in Northeastern Wisconsin. Wisconsinites deserve a representative who is going to place their interests above partisan politics, and I have done that by advancing legislation to strengthen the economy, improve our national security, and reform Congress so it works better for taxpayers. The people of Northeastern Wisconsin know me and what I stand for. I always put them first, and I look forward to asking for their support next November.”
On healthcare, Gallagher was among House Republicans in 2017 who did not support the GOP’s health care reform bill. He said at the time it did not address the underlying drivers of cost in our health care system.
Stuck has served in the Assembly since 2015.
