--- title: "Beck vs. Fitzgerald: 2026 Wisconsin’s 5th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-wi-05" updated: "2026-08-12" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Wisconsin’s 5th District race: Andrew Beck (D) vs. Scott Fitzgerald (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 12, 2026 The 2026 general election for Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District features Republican incumbent Scott Fitzgerald seeking re-election against Democratic challenger Andrew Beck. Fitzgerald emphasizes his conservative legislative record in the Wisconsin Senate and U.S. House, prioritizing tax relief, spending limits, border security, and labor deregulation. Beck, a sales manager and former healthcare technician running as a non-politician, centers his campaign on protecting democratic institutions, expanding healthcare access, and addressing climate change. ## Candidates - **Andrew Beck** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.beckforcongress.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Beck) - **Scott Fitzgerald** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://scottfitzgeraldforcongress.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Scott_Fitzgerald) ## Issues ### Democracy and Election Law Salience: high Beck prioritizes protecting democratic institutions and reforming campaign finance, whereas Fitzgerald voted against certifying 2020 electoral results and supports stricter voter registration requirements. **Andrew Beck:** Supports protecting democracy and campaign finance reform Beck identifies protecting democracy as the single most critical challenge facing the nation. He advocates for campaign finance transparency to eliminate dark money and supports reasonable term limits for elected officials alongside bipartisan compromise. - Considers protecting democracy the single most important challenge facing the nation over the next decade. - Calls for financial transparency in election financing to eliminate dark money in campaigns. - Supports reasonable term limits for elected officials to encourage fresh perspectives in Congress. > “Protecting our democracy is the single most important issue we need to address today.” > — Andrew Beck, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Beck) **Scott Fitzgerald:** Supports stricter voter proof-of-citizenship and voter ID laws Fitzgerald voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results for Arizona and Pennsylvania. He supported state voter ID laws while serving in the Wisconsin Senate and voted for federal legislation requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. - Voted against certifying 2020 presidential electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania. - Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections. - Supported Wisconsin voter ID legislation during his tenure as state Senate majority leader. > “I think that there’s enough isolated incidents over the years that anyone who casts a vote has to have the full faith in the idea that their vote counts and it’s not going to be canceled out by some other person in another part of the state involved in some shenanigans.” > — Scott Fitzgerald, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Scott_Fitzgerald) ### Abortion and Healthcare Salience: high Beck advocates for federal protection of abortion rights and expanded mental healthcare access, while Fitzgerald holds a pro-life stance and favors market-based healthcare reforms. **Andrew Beck:** Supports reproductive freedom and expanded mental healthcare Beck advocates for protecting a woman's right to decide her own healthcare choices and expanding access to affordable health services. He places a primary campaign focus on increasing mental health treatment resources and reducing social stigma. - States that a woman's right to decide her own healthcare choices is paramount. - Focuses on expanding access to mental health treatment to reduce societal tragedies and crimes. - Advocates for affordable healthcare pricing and easy public access. > “In addition, a Woman's right to decide her own healthcare choices is paramount.” > — Andrew Beck, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Beck) **Scott Fitzgerald:** Opposes abortion and supports free-market healthcare reform Fitzgerald maintains a pro-life platform and has earned the endorsement of anti-abortion advocacy groups. On healthcare policy, he supports market-driven reforms and consumer choice. - Endorsed by the Pro-Life Wisconsin Victory Fund PAC. - Maintains a pro-life stance on abortion policy. - Supports healthcare reform utilizing free-market principles and consumer choice. ### Taxes, Spending, and Budget Salience: high Beck emphasizes budget deficit elimination and financial transparency, whereas Fitzgerald signed a tax-pledge commitment and consistently votes for tax cuts and spending caps. **Andrew Beck:** Supports fiscal responsibility and deficit reduction Beck views reducing or eliminating budget deficits as a core duty of the House's revenue-raising authority. He calls for financial transparency in federal spending bills and the elimination of unrelated earmarks. - Views reducing or eliminating budget deficits through spending and tax bills as a solemn duty. - Calls for transparency in federal spending bills and the elimination of unrelated earmarks. - Advocates making the economy thrive for individual citizens rather than special interests. > “I will find it a solemn duty to perform within the House in response to spending bills and taxation bills, reducing or the elimination budget deficits.” > — Andrew Beck, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Beck) **Scott Fitzgerald:** Supports tax cuts and capping government spending Fitzgerald signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and consistently supports tax cuts and spending reductions. In Congress, he voted for budget reconciliation legislation, debt limit frameworks, and spending restraint bills. - Signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge. - Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) reconciliation bill in 2025. - Voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 and the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. ### Climate and Energy Salience: medium Beck calls for reducing greenhouse gases to fight climate change, while Fitzgerald supports boosting domestic fossil fuel production and cutting energy permitting regulations. **Andrew Beck:** Supports reducing greenhouse gases and counteracting climate change Beck identifies combating global warming as one of the country's main challenges over the next decade. He supports reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening environmental agencies to protect climate stability and agriculture. - Identifies combating global warming as a top national challenge for the next decade. - Supports policies reducing greenhouse gases to protect agriculture and prevent extreme weather events. - Expresses personal interest in serving on the House Natural Resources Committee. > “We need to continue to work on policies that will reduce the effects of global warming.” > — Andrew Beck, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Beck) **Scott Fitzgerald:** Supports expanding domestic oil and gas production Fitzgerald advocates for increasing domestic energy output and lowering regulatory hurdles for energy production. He voted for legislation to expand oil, natural gas, and coal development and streamline pipeline permitting. - Voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) to increase production of oil, natural gas, and coal. - Supports reducing permitting restrictions for energy pipelines, refineries, and mineral projects. ### Border Security and Immigration Salience: medium Beck advocates for equal rights under the law for immigrants, whereas Fitzgerald supports mandatory detention for certain non-citizens and strict border enforcement legislation. **Andrew Beck:** Supports legal equality and protections for immigrants Beck advocates for policy ensuring that immigrants are treated equally under government laws alongside other protected groups. He also expresses interest in serving on the House Homeland Security Committee. - Supports federal policies guaranteeing equal rights under the law for immigrants. - Lists the House Homeland Security Committee as one of his preferred assignments. > “The policies that I would like to affect while in Congress would be equality amongst all those in the United States, LGBTQ+, minorities, women, and immigrants, so that we can all be equal in the eyes of the government and laws.” > — Andrew Beck, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Beck) **Scott Fitzgerald:** Supports strict border enforcement and mandatory detention Fitzgerald supports rigorous enforcement of immigration laws and mandatory detention policies. He voted for the Laken Riley Act, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, and legislation making DUI offenses grounds for deportation, while voting to impeach the Homeland Security Secretary. - Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) requiring detention of undocumented immigrants arrested for theft offenses. - Voted for the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2) and the DUI deportation bill (H.R. 875). - Voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (H.Res. 863). ### Civil Rights and Social Issues Salience: medium Beck emphasizes government protections for LGBTQ+ equality, while Fitzgerald opposes same-sex marriage and voted to restrict transgender females from female sports. **Andrew Beck:** Supports full legal equality for LGBTQ+ and minorities Beck prioritizes achieving equality under government laws for LGBTQ+ individuals, racial minorities, women, and immigrants. He centers his public policy passion on extending civil protections to all Americans. - Advocates for equal rights and protections under government law for LGBTQ+, minority, and women communities. - Emphasizes expanding personal freedoms and peace for all citizens. > “The policies that I would like to affect while in Congress would be equality amongst all those in the United States, LGBTQ+, minorities, women, and immigrants, so that we can all be equal in the eyes of the government and laws.” > — Andrew Beck, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Beck) **Scott Fitzgerald:** Opposes same-sex marriage and supports female sports restrictions Fitzgerald opposes same-sex marriage on his historical campaign platform. In the 119th Congress, he voted for legislation restricting transgender females from participating in female athletic programs. - Maintains a campaign theme opposing same-sex marriage. - Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28) to restrict school athletic participation by biological sex. ### Labor and Union Rights Salience: low Beck is endorsed by organized labor and supports working families, while Fitzgerald led state legislative efforts to pass Right to Work and restrict public sector collective bargaining. **Andrew Beck:** Supports organized labor and working families Beck campaigns on traditional working-class values and has secured endorsements from major state labor organizations. - Endorsed by the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. - Emphasizes a hardworking Midwest work ethic and working-class background. **Scott Fitzgerald:** Supports right-to-work laws and public union restrictions During his tenure as Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader, Fitzgerald led legislative efforts to limit public sector collective bargaining rights and enact right-to-work laws. - Led the passage of Wisconsin Act 10, restricting public union collective bargaining. - Led the enactment of Right to Work legislation in Wisconsin. > “Scott Fitzgerald led the fight—and won—on Act 10, Right to Work, and years of balanced budgets for Wisconsin taxpayers.” > — Scott Fitzgerald, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Scott_Fitzgerald) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/wi-05-house-election-winner) — WI-05 House Election Winner: Republicans 96.9%, Democrats 2.6% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-WI05-26) — WI-05 House winner?: Scott Fitzgerald 98.0%, Andrew Beck 4.3% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXWIPRIMARY-05D26) — WI-05 Democratic nominee?: Andrew Beck 99.0%, Ben Steinhoff 1.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-wi-05)