John Gard


John Gard was a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly representing the 89th Assembly District from 1987 until 2007. He served as Speaker of the State Assembly from 2003 until 2007.
Gard was also the Republican nominee for U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 8th congressional district in 2006 and 2008, running against and losing to Democratic nominee Steve Kagen both times.
Gard graduated from University of Wisconsin–La Crosse in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

2006 8th congressional district election

With four-term incumbent Republican Mark Green running for Governor of Wisconsin, Wisconsin's 8th congressional district seat became an open seat.
Gard was the Republican nominee, defeating State Rep. Terri McCormick of Appleton in the September 12, 2006 Republican primary. He lost to Democrat Steve Kagen of Appleton in the November 7, 2006 mid-term election, 51–49%, in the most expensive congressional House race in state history. Gard's loss was part of the national Republican defeat. Issues that dominated the election were the Iraq War, healthcare, immigration, and pork barrel spending. Gard was able to carry his home county of Marinette with 51.4% of the vote and neighboring Oconto County by 52.1%. He lost Brown County, home to Green Bay, by less than 1,000 votes. Kagen carried his home county of Outagamie with 54.5% of the vote.

2008 8th congressional district election

John Gard announced on Sunday April 27, 2008 that he would again run against Democratic incumbent Steve Kagen for 8th district representative. The Cook Political Report claimed the race 'leans Democrat' even though the district was considered to "lean-Republican" with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R +4.
Other GOP potential candidates dropped out of the race, including State Assemblymen Frank Lasee and Steve Wieckert, and former Green Bay Mayor Paul Jadin. Gard received the Republican nomination, but lost the election by a count of 164,561 to 193,261.