MADISON, Wis. — The former owner of a dinosaur-themed gas station chain in northeastern Wisconsin was expected to announce a run for Congress in a heavily Republican district on Monday after winning Donald Trump’s endorsement over the weekend.
Tony Wied, owner of six Dino Stop gas stations and convenience stores, was expected to join the race for the open 8th seat in the Congressional District due to the surprise early retirement of Rep. Mike Gallagher. Two other Republicans and one Democrat have already announced their candidacies.
The primaries are on August 13.
Wied attended Trump’s rally in Green Bay last week. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has obtained a photo of a document titled “Tony Wied for Congress – WI08” that contained biographical information about Wied.
Trump posted his support for Wied on social media on Sunday, even though he has not yet officially entered the race. Wied is expected to do so Monday night at an event in Green Bay.
“After selling his highly successful oil and gas company, Tony Wield has decided to run for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, misspelling Wied’s last name.
Wied sold its Dino Stop chain to a Denver-based company in 2022.
Trump called on Republican Roger Roth, a former senator from Appleton, to drop out of the race. Roth endorsed Trump when he announced his latest run for Congress, after declining to back him in 2022 when asked if he would support a Trump nominee for president in 2024.
“Tony is running against RINO Roger Roth, who is a ‘clone’ of Paul Ryan, and no friend of MAGA – he should drop out of the Race NOW,” Trump wrote. “As your next Congressman, Tony will work hard to unleash American energy, stop inflation, secure our border, support our military/vets, and protect our ever-beleaguered Second Amendment.”
Roth highlighted his service in the Wisconsin Air National Guard in a statement Monday and recommitted himself to Trump.
“As the only veteran in this race, I know what it means to serve,” Roth said. “My wife and I look at our country and for the sake of our children, we know we must fight to preserve and protect what makes our country. America great. I will win this race and help win Wisconsin for Donald Trump in November.”
Roth has drawn his own support from conservatives, including former Republican Gov. Scott Walker and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
State Sen. Andre Jacque of De Pere is also running as a Republican. Dr. Kristin Lyerly, also from De Pere, is the only announced Democratic candidate.
Another Republican and Trump backer, Republican consultant Alex Bruesewitz, had considered a run. Brueselitz said in a text message Monday that he planned to flee until he met Wied.
“I strongly encouraged him to make plans for a run,” Bruestewitz said. “I believe he is a 10/10 candidate.”
Brueselitz said he would work as an adviser to Wied’s campaign.
Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District is solidly Republican, but Democrats have promised to make it competitive.
Trump won the district by 16 percentage points in 2020, even though he lost the state to President Joe Biden by less than a point. Gallagher won re-election three times by as much as 25 points. The district includes the cities of Appleton and Green Bay, Door County and covers primarily rural areas north of Marinette.