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Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District election, 2026 (August 11 Democratic primary)

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← 2024
Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: June 1, 2026
Primary: August 11, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in Wisconsin

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District
1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th
Wisconsin elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

A Democratic Party primary takes place on August 11, 2026, in Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District to determine which Democratic candidate will run in the district's general election on November 3, 2026.

Candidate filing deadline Primary election General election
June 1, 2026
August 11, 2026
November 3, 2026



A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Wisconsin utilizes an open primary system; registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[1]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This page focuses on Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

  • Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
  • Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 6

The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 6 on August 11, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Amanda Bell
Amanda Bell  Candidate Connection
Image of Kelly Brown
Kelly Brown  Candidate Connection
Image of Michael Heidenreich
Michael Heidenreich  Candidate Connection
Image of John Macho
John Macho  Candidate Connection
Image of Joey Marschall
Joey Marschall  Candidate Connection
Image of Kortney Oldham
Kortney Oldham
Image of Bradley Smith
Bradley Smith  Candidate Connection
Image of Aaron Wojciechowski
Aaron Wojciechowski  Candidate Connection

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Amanda Bell

Image of Amanda Bell

WebsiteFacebookYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I’m Amanda Bell. I was born and raised right here in Wisconsin’s 6th District on a small family dairy farm in rural Sheboygan County. From a young age, I learned the value of hard work — whether that was before school chores on the farm or working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Over the years, I’ve worked in bakeries, factories, restaurants, and eventually as a federal employee with the U.S. Geological Survey. My husband is a 20-year veteran, and we’re raising our daughter here in this community that we love. What’s driven me through it all is service — to my family, my community, and my country. I’m running for Congress because I believe our leaders should listen, work hard, and care about the people they represent. That’s who I am — a working Wisconsinite who’s ready to fight for her neighbors."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Listening First, Leading with Integrity: I’m running to represent the people of Wisconsin’s 6th District — not a single political party. Too many in Washington have stopped listening. My job is to hear directly from my neighbors and bring their voices to the table.

Hard Work, Real Experience, Wisconsin Values: I’ve spent my life working hard — on the farm and in factories, restaurants, and federal service. I know what it’s like to balance bills, raise a family, and serve your community. From farms to factories to the fed, I’ll work just as hard for you.

Government That Works for the People: Our representatives have become out of touch, using citizens as pawns in political games. I believe in a government that serves the people — protecting freedoms, supporting families, and strengthening the communities that make Wisconsin home.

Kelly Brown

Image of Kelly Brown

Facebook

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I am a disabled person who works in agriculture, quality control, and logistics, with experience in healthcare, animal care, telecommunications, and public service. I was born in Madison and raised on a dairy goat farm in Randolph, Wisconsin, where I learned the values of hard work, compassion, and responsibility. I’m autistic, non-binary, and the first openly transgender person to run for Congress in Wisconsin’s 6th District. My career includes work in memory care, tech support, veterinary clinics, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. I am also a dog trainer and Reiki practitioner, combining animal science with holistic care. I have volunteered with LGBTQ+ ally groups, disability advocacy efforts, suicide prevention, and mental health mentoring. I currently mentor others through the Eating Disorder Foundation. I hold a Health Information Technology degree from Moraine Park Technical College and am completing a bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Personalized Studies at UW–Parkside. I plan to continue on to a master’s program. I am a single parent and the child of a disabled vet. I’ve survived long COVID, medical trauma, poverty, and the opioid-related death of my son’s father. These experiences shape my commitment to compassionate, community-rooted policymaking."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

I bring firsthand experience with the systems Congress debates and leadership experience working to improve them. I’ve navigated disability, long COVID, housing insecurity, and the opioid crisis as a working parent. These challenges shape my understanding of healthcare, economic justice, and mental health policy. I’ve held leadership roles in 4-H, student government, and service organizations, including Vice President of my college’s student senate and Publications Chair for Circle K. I’ve also advocated for accessibility and equity on campus. I don’t just understand where systems fail. I’ve worked to make them better.

Rural communities deserve more than survival, they deserve real investment and opportunity. I was raised on a dairy goat farm in rural Wisconsin and still live in a small town today. I’ve seen how underinvestment in healthcare, infrastructure, and housing harms rural families. My platform prioritizes support for family farms, rural healthcare access, reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, clean energy, childcare availability, and affordable public transit between rural hubs. Strong local economies create stability statewide. Expanding rural broadband ensures no community is left behind.

Everyone deserves the freedom to live fully, with dignity, safety, and care. My platform is built on the belief that people should be free to work, love, and thrive, as long as they cause no harm to others, to animals, or to the planet. That means protecting civil rights, defending bodily autonomy, investing in community care, and holding systems accountable to the people they serve. From healthcare and environmental protection to labor rights and public safety, I’m focused on policies rooted in responsibility, compassion, and collective well-being.

Michael Heidenreich

Image of Michael Heidenreich

WebsiteFacebookYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I am a life long Wisconsin resident, a husband,a father, and a union power plant worker. I have been volunteering for political campaigns and causes since I was 18 years old. The last 16 years of my life I have been working in IBEW local 965 and have proudly worked alongside my brothers and sisters in the union to keep the lights on in this state. I realized that volunteering wasn't going to be enough, and when asked to run in some local elections I jumped in. After that experience I looked at my district and saw that all the political figures I could vote for I was happy with and in many cases helped elect. US house being the sole exception. I realized I had the means at hand, so I have a duty to act. This is a guiding principle for my life, and i see representing this district as a calling I can not refuse."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

I believe we should be represented not ruled. Our representative democracy only exists because the people feel like their views are heard by their representatives and acted upon in Congress. I don't think anyone right now feels like they are getting their views heard or acted upon. I may not agree with every idea or method of governing I hear, but I'm going to listen and at least talk about it with you. I feel that should be the most basic thing to ask from our representatives.

I feel we have gotten away from focusing on the issues of the working class. Specifically, the principals of universal healthcare and fully funded education have been held up as goals we just can't seem to achieve no matter how much desire there is for both. I can't think of more popular ideas to the general public, and yet time and again they are voted down as too hard and too expensive. I say we as a nation deserve better. And I think the time is ripe to both achieve and work on investing in our future, both our childrens future and our own health and happiness.

We absolutely must address the growing tendency in this nation to ignore any working class issues and waive some cultural red flag up as a distraction while we are being literally robbed blind. I am going to focus in on actual achievable results in improving my constituents lives, not telling them who to fear and who to hate. We can no longer allow people who's only purpose is to destroy government to run rampant in the halls of Congress. It's time to put in someone who can actually build something that works for us.

John Macho

Image of John Macho

Facebook

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I am a proud veteran who retired as a Major after 20 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. I enlisted at 18 and retired when my twin sons were just five months old, starting a new chapter as a parent and community advocate. I also served in the Peace Corps in Ghana, where I trained future teachers and embodied American values through my daily actions. That experience deepened my belief in education, community, and cross-cultural understanding. Back home, I worked as a teacher, child abuse investigator, and mental health case manager. I led by example and identified what my clients needed in terms of education, justice, and mental stability. I found myself working in the Wisconsin prison system for the second half of my career. I worked as a correctional officer and a prison educator, where I saw that true public safety meant preparing people for success after incarceration, not just punishing them. My Christian faith shapes my life. I believe in compassion, unity, and loving our neighbors, not using religion to divide. Above all, I am a father. As a widowed dad raising twin sons, now college seniors, I have found joy, purpose, and strength. They inspire me to keep serving."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

We need to have government oversight of corporations and equity firms that are gaining too much control of certain sectors of our economy and raising their profits at the consumers' expense.

The U.S. needs to get back into the business of leading: militarily, technologically, and morally.

We need to talk to one another again. We are all unique. Some of us are more friendly than others, but we need to find the right distance for us to interact. We need to have a cup of coffee and have a conversation.

Joey Marschall

Image of Joey Marschall

WebsiteFacebook

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "My name is Joey Marschall. I am a registered Democrat running for the Wisconsin 6th District. I was born and raised in Fond du Lac, WI and currently live in Waushara county. As a member of the working class I feel that I can relate and understand what the actual people in the district want. I believe in Healthcare for all, nobody should have to struggle and decide if they pay a medical bill or eat this week. I believe that every person is entitled to human rights, no matter the color of their skin, what religion they believe in, or who they love. I also believe that we need a new perspective working for us in Washington. One that works for the people and not the lobbyists or special interest groups and not someone who is looking to line there own pockets, whether that is in the form stocks, campaign donations or out right bribes. I have had multiple town halls in the last few months and plan on having may more in order to hear the people's voices."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

I believe in Healthcare for all, people shouldn't have to struggle to live or decide to eat or pay medical bills.

Human rights is a fundamental right that everyone deserves. Every person has the right to be themselves and not be persecuted for who they are and where there are from.

Veterans should be taken care of, they have put their life on the line to give the freedom and life that we all have.

Bradley Smith

Image of Bradley Smith

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I’m a lifelong Wisconsinite, Army veteran, and business leader who’s helped grow companies from startups to public firms. I believe that when we work together, our best days are still ahead. From local businesses to family farms to college campuses, I’ve seen how hard work and community spirit make Wisconsin special. My grandparents were dairy farmers, and I grew up in the Fox Valley. When I was born, my dad worked at a feed mill and my mom waited tables at the local supper club. From them, I learned the values of hard work and community. They built strong careers from those beginnings and created a stable, middle-class life for my sister and me. It’s a story that’s becoming less and less possible for families today. I served as a Staff Sergeant (Forward Observer) in the Wisconsin National Guard and spent 14 months deployed in support of the Global War on Terror. Our unit earned the federal Humanitarian Award for assisting with Hurricane Katrina recovery operations. After returning home, I became the first Smith man in my family to graduate from college with help from the GI Bill and went on to build a career helping Wisconsin companies grow from startups to public firms. I’m running to restore opportunity for working families, focused on fighting for livable wages, affordable healthcare, strong education and training, and a fair economy that puts people first over billionaires and special interests."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

1. Good Jobs and an Economy that prioritizes working families I will focus on rewarding companies that hire in our local communities, fight for livable wages for every worker, and make affordability a priority so everyone can thrive. From housing to everyday costs, every Wisconsinite deserves the opportunity to build a vibrant and stable life.

2. Affordable, reliable healthcare for everyone Every Wisconsinite deserves access to affordable, dependable healthcare. I will work to lower costs, protect coverage for preexisting conditions, and expand clinics and telehealth access so care stays close to home in every community. I will fight to build a low-cost public option that competes with the best private insurance, available to all. Healthcare should be a basic right in the richest country in the world.

3. Education and Training for Every Path Everyone deserves the chance to build a better life without a mountain of debt. I will work to increase public school funding and expand access to technical colleges, apprenticeships, and affordable higher education so every Wisconsinite can gain the skills needed to succeed in a changing economy. I will also push for investment in training that supports every worker, from those just starting out to those starting over.

Aaron Wojciechowski

Image of Aaron Wojciechowski

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "Aaron "WOJO" Wojciechowski, 28, is a 3-term local elected official previously serving on the Winnebago County Board for 4 years and the Oshkosh City Council for 2. He is an educator and a proud UW Oshkosh graduate. Aaron is focused on bringing back honest forward-thinking leadership and ensuring every resident of the 6th CD has a seat at the decision making table. Aaron is running on a common-sense platform that actually prioritizes America (not foreign nations) including the working class, families, and farmers. His vision for our county is clear: uplift the working poor, grow the middle class, hold the rich and powerful accountable. As the next U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 6th district, Aaron will fight for affordable and accessible healthcare, fair wages and working conditions, a competitive economy that prioritizes jobs here, not overseas, support for our farmers, and resources for our communities. "I come from a low income working class family. Both parents worked long hours, my brothers & I relied on the free lunch program, and my sister battled with health issues her entire life resulting in crippling medical debt. Despite this, my parents did the best to provide us a better life. It's the reason I was the first in my family to graduate. My upbringing, experience, and empathy are what we need, not career politicians like Glenn Grothman who has spent 30+ years in politics with nothing to show."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Why am I running? 1: The working class has been left behind. As someone who knows what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck, I understand that life is becoming unaffordable for so many. Be it grocery prices, rent, or healthcare, the average worker and household is struggling to keep up. Politicians in D.C. are busy fighting for power and getting rich off of insider trading, so much so that they’ve forgotten people like you and I, the backbone of this economy and country. I’m fighting against that, for you.

2. My opponent is an clown: Glenn Grothman has served the last 30+ years in politics, so long that he’s become reliant on it. And what does he have to show for it? Absolutely nothing. He refuses to hold in-person town halls, he has a lifetime score of 10% with the AFL-CIO, he voted for the Bigger Bullshit Bill that will $5 TRILLION to the national debt and cut $1 trillion in Medicaid for low income families that need health care, and he’s the guy who said he is “not going to push at all against President Trump” when asked about releasing the Epstein Files. His horrible record speaks for itself.

Why I'm different: My priorities and vision are clear: uplift the working poor, grow the middle class, hold the rich and powerful accountable. I support making health care and housing more affordable and accessible, defending our democracy, and creating an economy that works for every day Americans. This is not left vs right, but top vs bottom. Grothmans (70) does not have the understanding to lead us forward. I am running to be a voice for all my constituents, that's why I pledged: I will purchase no stocks while serving in office, accept no corporate or foreign affiliated PAC money, and host a town hall every month. Grothman has broken all 3. It's time for a new brand of politics that is actually America first.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Wisconsin

Election information in Wisconsin: Aug. 11, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: Aug. 11, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by July 22, 2026
  • Online: July 22, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: Aug. 9, 2026
  • By mail: Received by Aug. 6, 2026
  • Online: Aug. 6, 2026

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: Aug. 11, 2026
  • By mail: Received by Aug. 11, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

July 28, 2026 to Aug. 9, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (CT)

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Amanda Bell Democratic Party $3,203 $2,240 $963 As of December 31, 2025
Kelly Brown Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Michael Heidenreich Democratic Party $2,651 $1,522 $1,129 As of December 31, 2025
John Macho Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Joey Marschall Democratic Party $201 $10 $191 As of June 30, 2025
Kortney Oldham Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Bradley Smith Democratic Party $32,997 $9,630 $23,367 As of December 31, 2025
Aaron Wojciechowski Democratic Party $36,626 $31,761 $4,866 As of December 31, 2025

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

  • District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.


Below is the district map in place for this election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

2023_01_03_wi_congressional_district_06.jpg
See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026
Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+8. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 8 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Wisconsin's 6th the 151st most Republican district nationally.[2]

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
41.0%58.0%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Wisconsin, 2024

Wisconsin presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 15 Democratic wins
  • 16 Republican wins
  • 1 other win
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party R R R D R R P[3] R D D D R D R R R D R R D R R D D D D D D D R D R
See also: Party control of Wisconsin state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Wisconsin's congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Wisconsin
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 1 2 3
Republican 1 6 7
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 8 10

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Wisconsin's top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in Wisconsin, October 2025
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorDemocratic Party Tony Evers
Lieutenant GovernorDemocratic Party Sara Rodriguez
Secretary of StateDemocratic Party Sarah Godlewski
Attorney GeneralDemocratic Party Josh Kaul

State legislature

Wisconsin State Senate

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 15
     Republican Party 18
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 33

Wisconsin State Assembly

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 45
     Republican Party 54
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 99

Trifecta control

Wisconsin Party Control: 1992-2025
Two years of Democratic trifectas  •  Ten years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D
Senate D R R R D D R D D D D R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Wisconsin in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Wisconsin, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Wisconsin U.S. House All candidates 1,000 N/A 6/1/2026 Source

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wis. Stat. § 5.62," accessed January 5, 2026
  2. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
  3. ↑ Progressive Party


Wisconsin's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Tammy Baldwin (D)
Ronald Johnson (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
Tony Wied (R)
Republican Party (7)
Democratic Party (3)


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