Election Day for the general election arrives Tuesday, November 3, with in-person absentee voting October 20 to November 1. Mailed absentee ballots are due October 29 at 5 p.m.
With that said, it’s time for candidate questionnaires. Starting out this week with federal races, the race to watch for Owen-Withee is U.S. House District 7.
Also on the ballot this November are state races for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, state assembly and senate races, various local races and three ballot questions, covered in future articles.
As for House District 7, facing off on the ballot this November are Michael Alfonso (Republican) and Fred Clark (Democrat). The incumbent for District 7, Tom Tiffany, is running for governor this year.

Starting with Clark, the 67-year-old forester is a lifelong conservationist and small business owner, with a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University. Clark shared more in a questionnaire.

Name: Fred Clark
Age: 67
Seat/Office sought: Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District

Background/Education?
I am a lifelong conservationist, small business owner, and public servant. A forester by trade, I founded and ran Clark Forestry, a Baraboo-based business that helped landowners across Wisconsin manage their forests responsibly. I later went on to lead two major conservation organizations – the national Forest Stewards Guild and Wisconsin’s Green Fire – both dedicated to sound science and stewardship in environmental policy.
I have a B.S. degree from Michigan State University (‘85) and an M.S. Degree in Forestry from the University of Wisconsin Madison.
In the Wisconsin State Assembly, where I served three terms, I brought a grounded, thoughtful approach, championing sustainable forestry, clean water, public education, accessible healthcare, and the rights of working families—standing up for Wisconsin’s people and public servants during some of the most challenging debates in our state’s history.
Today, as a resident of Bayfield, I strive to continue to lead by example, whether it’s hosting community conversations on local radio, volunteering on trails and parks, or swimming across Chequamegon Bay just for fun.
What is your basic philosophy for governing/representation?
My basic philosophy of governing and representation is to seek creative and visionary policies, while standing strong on core democratic values, building broad coalitions whenever possible, and striving for solutions that are best for most of the people most of the time. I am a Democratic candidate with an independent mindset. As a representative I make a commitment to engage everyone with respect, and to listen to and to represent everyone, including people who don't agree with me.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
The most important issue I see every day is that the quality of life in many of our northern communities is declining and people are falling financially farther and farther behind every year. Housing is often unavailable and unaffordable, and the cost of health care, child care, food, and gasoline continue to increase. The major reason this is happening is that both Republicans and Democrats have failed to do their job and rein in the mega-corporations that set the prices for food, fuel, housing, health care, and so many of the other things we need. And the biggest reason for this failure is the unlimited money that is allowed in political campaigns of both parties from corporations, special interests, and the ultra-wealthy.
For these reasons we need to 1) Reduce the amount of special interest money in elections and require complete disclosure of election spending, 2) Establish stronger ethics laws for elected officials and candidates for office, 3) Strengthen and enforce anti-trust laws and anti-corruption laws, 4) Implement tax reform that claws back 40 years of tax giveaways to the wealthiest Americans and our most profitable corporations, and 5) Pass meaningful legislation to make quality health care available to everyone, make housing more available and affordable, and end the tariff war and Iran war that have caused the increased prices for so many of the things we need to live. This is just the beginning - and we have a lot of work to do in a new Congress in 2027.
Why you for this seat/office rather than your opponent(s)?
I am motivated by the core belief that we need a government that follows the Constitution and is fundamentally moral. The people of Northern Wisconsin deserve independent representation - someone who isn’t beholden to corporate interests and who is willing to speak with and listen to everyone, regardless of who they may have voted for.
As a rural legislator, I worked hard to support the people I represented from all walks of life, no matter their politics. As a long-time small business owner, employer, organizational executive, and volunteer leader, I’ve led teams and helped guide people to solve problems and perform at their best. In the state capital, I worked to build relationships with political opponents and I worked across the aisle whenever I had the opportunity to get something important accomplished.
I believe that experience matters, and I also believe that who you are as a person matters more than any political party affiliation. If we want a government that works for us, we need to elect people who will show up, listen, and work to represent everybody, even when we don’t agree.
Campaign Social Media:
Website: clarkforwi.com
Facebook: FredClarkforWI
Instagram: @fredclarkforwi

Also seeking a chance to represent District 7 but as a Republican is Michael Alfonso, a 26-year-old raised in Wisconsin’s Seventh District. Alfonso holds a degree in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is the son-in-law of former District 7 Representative Sean Duffy, now U.S. Transportation Secretary. Alfonso is endorsed by President Donald Trump, sharing more in a questionnaire.

Name: Michael Alfonso
Age: 26
Seat/Office sought: WI-7 Congressional Seat

Background/Education?
I was raised in Wisconsin’s 7th District. I earned a degree in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, graduating debt-free after working construction to pay my way through college. After graduation, I returned to the construction industry before later becoming the producer of one of the nation’s top-rated conservative podcasts.
What is your basic philosophy for governing/representation?
I want to make the American Dream more attainable for every Wisconsin family. Seniors deserve to keep more of what they earned, and young families should have every opportunity to buy a home, raise their children, and build a prosperous future. Every decision I make will be guided by the people of Wisconsin’s 7th District and what is best for them.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
The greatest threat facing Wisconsin’s 7th District and America is the collapse of affordability and the radical Democrats who use socialism to exploit it. When families struggle to afford groceries, young people can't afford to buy a home, and retirees watch their savings lose value, Democrats' false promises become more appealing. I want the next generation to be able to achieve the American Dream right here in Wisconsin—to afford a home, raise a family, build a career, and put down roots in the communities where they grew up. The solution isn't more government control, but an America First economy: unleash American energy, cut wasteful spending, fight inflation, protect wages, safeguard Medicare and Social Security, stop Wall Street from buying family homes, and lower prescription drug costs.
Why you for this seat/office rather than your opponent(s)?
I am the only candidate in this race endorsed by President Trump. I will build on the conservative movement's momentum in Wisconsin. Socialists are gaining ground with young Americans, and Republicans need more than passive representation to answer them. I represent a new generation of America First leadership. I will lower costs, protect American workers, and prove that freedom, hard work, and conservative values—not socialism—offer the strongest path to the American Dream.
Campaign Social Media:
X: @MikeAlfonsoWI
FB: https://www.facebook.com/AlfonsoforCongress/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelalfonsowi/?hl=en