Fred Kappus, chairman of the Eau Claire County GOP, says the race for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District will be challenging. But he added stops from President Donald Trump, like on Friday, will help mobilize Wisconsin Republicans.

“I think the number that Derrick (Van Orden) had mentioned to me was probably $50 million will be spent on that race,” Kappus told WISN’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics-State Affairs. “They’re going to be spending a lot of money to try and oust him.”

Kappus said Trump’s support among Republicans in the western part of the state remains “very strong.”

“A lot of people wearing these red hats around here. When I’m out at Menards or Kwik Trip, I get more of these than I do these,” Kappus said, referring to a thumbs up. “I’ve got one that says ‘Trump 2028.’ Boy, does that drive the liberals crazy.”

Kappus said if gas prices remain high near the election, it could impact Republicans, but he backed the president’s reasoning and the war in Iran.

“There might be protest votes,” Kappus said. “People on the fence about Republicans will say, ‘Well, gas prices are too high, so I’m going to vote for Rebecca Cooke or Francesca Hong.’ Well, that’d be a dumb thing to do, but whatever, it’s your vote. If you want to throw it away, that’s fine.”

Kappus said his biggest challenge is to “energize conservatives” in the western part of the state between now and Election Day.

“To register to vote and then to get them out there and vote in November either by mail-in ballots, early voting or on Election Day,” Kappus said. “It’s really amazing to myself and a lot of other people is 60% of hunters do not vote, and that is crazy. “

He suggested Dems would confiscate hunters’ guns if they had their druthers.

“Why don’t you vote?” he added. “What’s wrong with that picture? So we’re trying to talk to people. We set up a booth at area gun shows and sportsman shows to once again get the word out.”

See more from the show.