Kevin Hermening
Financial advisor
Republican
Wausau
Elected Experience
Mosinee School Board (16 years)
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters send you to congress?
I am asking for your vote because Congress needs people who are ready on day one. I have spent a lifetime serving our country and our communities — as a U.S. Marine, former Iranian hostage, small-business owner, financial advisor, educator, school board president, and community volunteer. I have created jobs, balanced budgets, met payrolls, and helped families plan for their futures. I understand the challenges facing northern and western Wisconsin because I have lived and worked here for 40 years. I will fight to secure our border, control spending, strengthen our economy, support our veterans, protect Social Security and Medicare, and defend our constitutional freedoms. I offer proven leadership, tested judgment, and real-world experience — not promises, but results.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
The top issue facing Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District is affordability. Families, seniors, farmers, and small-business owners are working hard, but inflation, housing shortages, healthcare costs, and energy prices continue to squeeze household budgets. I will address this by focusing on policies that grow the economy rather than grow government. We must reduce reckless federal spending, unleash American energy production, cut burdensome regulations, and support workforce and housing development in rural communities. I will fight to protect Social Security and Medicare for current retirees while strengthening their long-term future. I will also work to expand opportunities for good-paying jobs in manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, healthcare, and technology. Prosperity comes from opportunity, not dependence, and I will work every day to restore both.
What expertise would you bring into congress? How would it help your district?
I would bring a unique combination of military service, business leadership, financial expertise, and public service to Congress. As a U.S. Marine and former Iranian hostage, I understand national security, leadership under pressure, and the importance of American strength. As a financial advisor for nearly four decades, managing hundreds of millions of dollars for Wisconsin families and businesses, I understand budgets, economic growth, retirement security, and fiscal responsibility. As a school board member and president for sixteen years, I have experience solving problems, building consensus, and governing at the local level. These experiences will help me advocate effectively for Wisconsin’s Seventh District by promoting economic growth, supporting veterans, strengthening rural communities, improving workforce opportunities, and bringing practical solutions — not partisan rhetoric — to Washington.
Should Congress exert more oversight over the president? Why or why not?
Yes, Congress should exercise oversight over the President because the Constitution requires checks and balances. Oversight is not about partisan attacks; it is about accountability, transparency, and ensuring that laws are faithfully executed. Whether the President is a Republican or a Democrat, Congress has a duty to ask questions, review spending, and make sure taxpayer dollars are being used effectively. At the same time, oversight should be responsible and focused on results, not political theater. I support a strong president, but I also support a strong Congress that fulfills its constitutional responsibilities. The goal should be better government, protection of individual liberty, and greater confidence that Washington is working for the American people rather than for itself.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
One of my favorite Wisconsin fun facts is that our state motto is simply, “Forward.” Adopted in 1851, it reflects the pioneering spirit, optimism, and determination that have defined Wisconsin for generations. I love it because it captures what I believe about both our state and our country. Wisconsinites are practical people who solve problems, work hard, help their neighbors, and keep moving forward no matter the obstacles. From our farmers and manufacturers to our veterans and small-business owners, we are a state built by people who don’t quit when times get tough. “Forward” is more than a motto — it is a reminder that progress comes through hard work, personal responsibility, and a commitment to leave things better than we found them.