Tony Wied Bio
Anthony Christian Wied (born May 3, 1976) is an American politician and businessman who has served as the United States Representative for Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district since November 2024. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in a 2024 special election to succeed Mike Gallagher and was sworn into Congress on November 12, 2024. Before entering public service, Wied built a career in the private sector as the owner of a regional chain of gas stations and convenience stores.
Wied’s path to Congress combined small-business experience, deep ties to northeastern Wisconsin, and support from national Republican figures. He resides in De Pere, Wisconsin, with his wife and four sons, and represents a district that covers a competitive stretch of the state.
Early Life and Background
Anthony Christian Wied was born on May 3, 1976, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was raised in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, a community in Brown County near Green Bay, where he spent his formative years. Growing up in this part of the state helped shape his long-standing connections to northeastern Wisconsin.
Wied attended Notre Dame Academy, a Catholic high school in the Green Bay area, graduating with the class of 1994. He went on to attend St. Norbert College, also in the Green Bay region, where he played college football and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1998. His college experience combined academics with athletics, building the discipline and teamwork that would later influence his business and political careers.
Path to US Politics
After completing his education, Wied entered the private sector and built a career as a small-business owner. He founded and operated Dino Stop, a regional chain of gas stations and convenience stores based in Wisconsin. Under his leadership, the chain grew to include multiple locations across the region, giving him firsthand experience with hiring, expansion, and the regulatory environment facing small employers.
Wied sold Dino Stop in 2022, a transition that eventually cleared the way for his political ambitions. In 2024, after United States Representative Mike Gallagher announced his resignation from Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district seat, Wied declared his candidacy in the special election to succeed him. His business background and ties to the district positioned him as a serious contender before the campaign even began in earnest.
Tony Wied Career
Early Career (2024 Campaign)
Wied formally entered the race for Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district in 2024 following Mike Gallagher’s announcement that he would leave the House of Representatives. He quickly assembled a campaign team and secured early attention from conservative activists in the region. Among his early supporters was Alex Bruesewitz, a political ally of Donald Trump who had previously considered running for the seat before Wied joined the race.
Wied also received an endorsement from Donald Trump, which gave his primary campaign a significant boost. He went on to defeat Wisconsin state senators André Jacque and Roger Roth in the Republican Party primary election held on August 13, 2024, clearing the field in a competitive contest. The primary win established him as the Republican nominee for both the special and general elections held later that year.
Special Election and Congressional Arrival (2024)
After securing the Republican nomination, Wied faced Kristin Lyerly, the Democratic Party nominee, in the combined special and general election for Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district. He won the contest, earning the seat and continuing Republican representation of the district. The victory made him the newest member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin.
Wied was sworn into office on November 12, 2024. His arrival in Congress came at a busy time in Washington, and he soon began working on legislation affecting his district and the country. Among his early actions, Wied supported the American Relief Act of 2025, backing the package as a member of the freshman class of representatives.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wied’s most significant milestone to date is his 2024 election to the United States House of Representatives in a closely watched special election. Securing the Republican primary against two sitting state senators demonstrated his appeal among party voters, and his general-election win delivered the seat for the GOP. His swearing-in on November 12, 2024, marked the formal start of his tenure representing Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district in Congress.
Tony Wied Career Wins
Tony Wied has built a record that includes one verified federal election victory in Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district. His win came during a unique 2024 cycle that combined a special election to fill the unexpired term of Mike Gallagher with the regularly scheduled general election. The result gave him a seat in the United States House of Representatives and a platform to advocate for his constituents in northeastern Wisconsin.
Congressional Election Highlights
Wied’s first and only congressional win came in 2024, when he captured both the Republican primary and the combined special and general election for Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district. In the August 13, 2024, primary, he defeated state senators André Jacque and Roger Roth to become the GOP nominee. He then went on to defeat Democratic nominee Kristin Lyerly in the general election, securing the seat and being sworn in on November 12, 2024.
Tony Wied Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Tony Wied was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and was raised in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, where he attended local schools and built early ties to the Green Bay area. He went on to attend St. Norbert College, where he played college football and earned his degree, continuing a pattern of community involvement that has carried into his political career.
Wied is married to Angela Wied, and together they have four sons. The family lives in De Pere, Wisconsin, a city in Brown County located across the Fox River from Green Bay. Their home in De Pere anchors Wied’s connection to the 8th congressional district he represents, which includes much of the Green Bay metropolitan area and surrounding communities.