GOP businessman and attorney Paul Wassgren has suspended his campaign for the 7th CD, saying he plans to instead support fellow Wisconsin Republicans and get more involved in the Catholic Church. 

Wassgren, who largely self-funded his bid, cited the April election results in calling on “all Republicans, including candidates, to prioritize the interests of the Republican Party and the State of Wisconsin.”

His departure leaves four Republicans vying for the party’s nomination to succeed GOP U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is running for governor.   

“While I have the resources and message to win this race and be a fierce advocate for our district in Congress, I recognize that a bloody and highly expensive primary will only benefit the Democrats,” he said Tuesday.

Wassgren, who chairs the Ashland County GOP, said he’ll be active in helping Tiffany, R-Minocqua, in his race for governor.

President Donald Trump in January endorsed Michael Alfonso, the 26-year-old son-in-law of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who previously represented the northern Wisconsin congressional seat. Alfonso has also benefited from nearly $1.6 million in independent expenditures from the Northwoods Future PAC. The group has been largely funded by money from Duffy’s leftover congressional funds and Illinois businessman Dick Uihlein.

The rest of the GOP field has struggled to raise money from others, though Wassgren and former Marathon County GOP Chair Kevin Hermening have largely self-funded their campaigns.

Along with Alfonso and Hermening, Jessi Ebben, who unsuccessfully ran for the GOP nomination in the 3rd CD in 2020, and newcomer Niina Baum, who has cast herself as a moderate Republican, are also seeking the party’s nomination.

Through the end of March, Wassgren had reported more than $3.4 million in receipts. But that included $3.2 million in loans he gave the campaign, and that number was somewhat inflated by an accounting move during the first quarter of 2026. While he gave the campaign $1.7 million during the period, he also repaid $1.2 million in loans.

During the first three months of the year, he reported just $3,977 in contributions from individuals.

Minus the loan repayment, he had spent $482,754 on his bid since his announcement.

“This is what happens when candidates move from California or Florida or from a previous campaign in the 3rd District with no roots, no mortgages, not even a history of voting here,” Hermening spokesperson Brian Christianson wrote in a text message, referencing Wassgren and Alfonso’s prior residencies and Ebben’s unsuccessful 2020 run for Congress. 

In a text, Alfonso spokesperson Max Docksey thanked Wassgren for his candidacy and said he “made an important point – Republicans need to keep our focus on what’s best for our party and the state of Wisconsin. When we are divided, only Democrats benefit.”