Donald Raihala

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Donald Raihala

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 9, 2016

Education

High school

Superior Senior High School

Bachelor's

University of Wisconsin

Personal

Profession

Real Estate Broker

Contact

Personal website

Donald Raihala was a 2016 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 7th Congressional District of Wisconsin. Raihala was defeated by incumbent Sean Duffy in the Republican primary on August 9, 2016.

Raihala was a 2014 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 7th Congressional District of Wisconsin. Incumbent Sean Duffy defeated Raihala in the Republican primary.

Biography

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Born and raised in Superior, Wisconsin, Raihala graduated from Superior Senior High School in 1986. He earned his B.A. in accounting and finance from the University of Wisconsin in 1990.

Professionally, Raihala has worked as an accountant, purchasing agent, project manager, landlord, housing resale investor, real estate broker and property manager. He has owned or co-owned several businesses in the construction and landscaping trades.

Elections

2016

See also: Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Sean Duffy (R) defeated Mary Hoeft (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Duffy defeated Donald Raihala in the Republican primary, while Hoeft defeated Joel Lewis to win the Democratic nomination. The primary elections took place on August 9, 2016.

U.S. House, Wisconsin District 7 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Sean Duffy Incumbent	61.7%	223,418
	Democratic	Mary Hoeft	38.3%	138,643
Total Votes				362,061
Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission

U.S. House, Wisconsin District 7 Republican Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Sean Duffy Incumbent	89.5%	29,501
Donald Raihala	10.5%	3,456
Total Votes		32,957
Source: Wisconsin Elections and Ethics Commission

U.S. House, Wisconsin District 7 Democratic Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Mary Hoeft	80.7%	27,289
Joel Lewis	19.3%	6,531
Total Votes		33,820
Source: Wisconsin Elections and Ethics Commission

2014

See also: Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District elections, 2014

Raihala ran in the 2014 election for the U.S. House to represent Wisconsin's 7th District. Incumbent Sean Duffy defeated Raihala in the Republican primary.

U.S. House, Wisconsin District 7 Republican Primary, 2014

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Sean Duffy Incumbent	87.6%	25,707
Don Raihala	12.3%	3,607
John Schiess (write-in)	0%	2
Scattering	0.1%	20
Total Votes		29,336
Source: Wisconsin Government Accountability Board

Campaign themes

2016

The following issues were listed on Raihala's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“	Abortion: Since Roe v. Wade made abortion legal in the United States in 1973, it has unfairly become one of the main litmus tests for determining which party you belong. As decisive as this has been in choosing a representative, the House of Representatives by itself can do nothing and is extremely limited to overturn this law without the full cooperation of the Executive Branch and Congressional majorities. Bailouts: No more bailouts, period! Not only can we not afford this nonsensical expenditure that our most recent presidents have indulged in, but it grossly rewards inept business practices and unjustly punishes the American taxpayer. What this next Congress will likely see are potential bailout requests from health insurance providers, municipalities such as Detroit and Chicago, states like California, and even territories such as Puerto Rico. My answer to these and any others, be it commercial or governmental, that come looking for bailouts is simply this - No More Bailouts! Balanced Budget: It appears that Congress and past Presidents have always been incapable of taking steps toward balancing the federal budget. Though the act of spending more than the tax revenue taken in has been around since the founding of our country, only in the last 10 years has it really accelerated to uncontrollable levels. I am in complete favor of a balance budget amendment to the US Constitution. Deficit Spending/Debt Ceiling: Currently at a staggering $19.5 trillion, debt ceiling increases that pay for habitual deficit spending must not continue to be treated by politicians as an election year hindrance. This is an extreme threat to our prosperity, well being, freedoms and national security and must be treated as such. This must play into the debate of all spending and governmental endeavors. Domestic Spying/NSA: I can’t imagine why anyone would be for the unlawful tapping of your own phone or computer communitcations. It’ not just an invasion of your privacy, but a clear violation of your Constitutional rights.	”
—Donald Raihala's campaign website, http://www.donforcongress.com/

See also

• United States House of Representatives
• Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District election, 2016
• Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District

External links

Suggest a link

• Campaign website
• Facebook page

Footnotes

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Wisconsin's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Tammy Baldwin (D)

Ronald Johnson (R)

Representatives

District 1

Bryan Steil (R)

District 2

Mark Pocan (D)

District 3

Derrick Van Orden (R)

District 4

Gwen Moore (D)

District 5

Scott Fitzgerald (R)

District 6

Glenn Grothman (R)

District 7

Tom Tiffany (R)

District 8

Tony Wied (R)

Republican Party (7)

Democratic Party (3)