Rep. Mike Gallagher will not be on your ballot for the U.S. Senate in 2024 after announcing his re-election campaign for his U.S. House seat on Friday.

Some circles had penciled in the Republican congressman to battle U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin for her seat after he won his fourth election last fall. Gallagher put those rumors to bed on Friday, stating that he has “a rare, bipartisan opportunity in the 118th Congress to help restore American strength, prevent war in the Pacific, and defend our basic freedoms from communist aggression,” adding that it deserves its undivided attention. Gallagher did not face a Democratic challenger in 2022, winning 70 percent of the vote.

As for the U.S. Senate, Baldwin has declared her intentions to win her seat for a third time as a Democrat. No Republicans have officially entered the race, but Gallagher’s colleague in the House Rep. Tom Tiffany, and business leaders Eric Hovde and Scott Mayer have all expressed interest in the seat.

FULL STATEMENT FROM REP MIKE GALLAGHER

“As the representative of Northeast Wisconsin and Chairman of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, I have a rare, bipartisan opportunity in the 118th Congress to help restore American strength, prevent war in the Pacific, and defend our basic freedoms from communist aggression. Accomplishing this mission and serving Wisconsin’s 8th District deserve my undivided attention. Therefore, I will not run for the Senate in 2024 and will pursue re-election to the House.” 

“I believe that when we look back in 50 years, the American people will ask: Did our elected leaders rally as a country and confront the Chinese Communist Party threat before it was too late? Continuing to lead this fight in the House of Representatives is the best way for me to help answer that question affirmatively.”

Picture Courtesy of U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher