Matt Neumann told WisPolitics.com he is passing on a bid for the 5th CD due to the strains serving in Congress could place on his young family.
That leaves Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, as the only announced candidate for the heavily Republican district less than six months out from the filing deadline.
Neumann, whose father Mark Neumann served two terms in Congress more than two decades ago, has four children between the ages of 2 and 8. He said the idea of being in Washington, D.C., Monday through Thursday, leaving his wife to parent their children alone, was the ultimate factor in his decision against running.
Neumann, 37, was 12 and had siblings who were 16 and 18 when his father was elected to the 1st CD at age 40 in 1994.
“At the end of the day it was just too much to think about not being there with my family,” Neumann said in an interview.
Neumann said he met with Fitzgerald on Tuesday to inform him of his decision and pledge his support to the Juneau Republican.
Neumann is the latest in a string of possible Republican candidates who have passed on a bid for the 5th CD following longtime GOP U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner’s announcement in September that he wouldn’t seek reelection to the southeastern Wisconsin seat after four decades in the House.
Those Republicans who have passed include Waukesha County Exec Paul Farrow, state Sen. Chris Kapenga, former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, former U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Nicholson, former state Sen. Leah Vukmir and Matt Walker, the son of former Gov. Scott Walker.
On the Dem side, Tom Palzewicz has announced plans to run after losing to Sensenbrenner last time with 38 percent of the vote.
Neumann, who works in the family home building business with his father, said he is leaving the door open to a future run.
“The question is what’s the right timing for our family,” Neumann said. “Our priorities are faith and family. Those are always going to come first.”
