U.S. House, Wisconsin 7th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District?
Fred Clark has the strongest record in Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District. Fred Clark scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Fred Clark's highest marks are relevant experience and accountability. Michael Alfonso (7 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Michael Alfonso
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 45
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Strongest record
Fred Clark
64 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Michael Alfonso
- On the record2026-02-24
WPR reported he re-registered to vote in Wisconsin in January 2026 at a Duffy-owned home near Hayward while an October 2024 Florida voter registration remained active.
Sources: WPR, Feb. 24, 2026, Superior Telegram
- On the record2026-07-06
Ran for Congress at 26 with a career of construction work and a year as a podcast producer; Republican leaders in at least three district counties publicly questioned his experience before the primary.
Source: AP, July 6, 2026
Fred Clark
- Mark against2011-06
Was recorded on a constituent's answering machine saying he felt like calling her back and 'smackin' her around'; he apologized personally and publicly.
Sources: WISC-TV (Channel 3000), 2011, The Capital Times, Feb. 8, 2014
- Mark against2009-08-18
Was cited by Madison police after running a red light and striking a bicyclist near the state Capitol; the cyclist had non-life-threatening injuries.
Sources: AP via MPR News, Aug. 19, 2009, PolitiFact Wisconsin, July 24, 2011
- Credit2026-09-24
Held open public town halls across the district during the 2026 campaign, including a Ladysmith open house reported by WEAU.
Source: WEAU, Sept. 24, 2026
- Credit2014-02-08
Served as ranking Democratic member of the Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry before leaving the Assembly in 2015.
Source: The Capital Times, Feb. 8, 2014
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Michael Alfonso. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 22, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed April 18, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or other official finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10074487, FEC administrative fines search
Fred Clark. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 22, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or other official finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078416, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Michael Alfonso. No public record found.
Fred Clark. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Michael Alfonso. Took part in a July 7, 2026 Republican primary debate in Rhinelander and agreed to a televised general election debate with Fred Clark on Oct. 7, 2026.
Sources: WXPR, July 8, 2026, State Affairs (WisPolitics), Sept. 10, 2026
Fred Clark. Holds public town halls across the district, including a Ladysmith open house in September 2026, and agreed to the Oct. 7 WDIO debate after challenging his opponent to seven debates.
Sources: WEAU, Sept. 24, 2026, State Affairs (WisPolitics), Sept. 10, 2026, Campaign site, Events
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Michael Alfonso. No public record found.
Fred Clark. Served three Assembly terms from 2009 to 2015 with no censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Fred Clark
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Michael Alfonso. No public record found.
Fred Clark. Took and kept the oath of a Wisconsin state legislator from 2009 to 2015 with no finding of misuse of office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Fred Clark
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Michael Alfonso. Graduated from UW-Madison in 2022, worked construction jobs and then about a year as producer of a national podcast. Has not held public office or a documented leadership post.
Sources: AP, July 6, 2026, Ballotpedia, Michael Alfonso
Fred Clark. Served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, 2009 to 2015, and worked as a forester.
Source: Ballotpedia, Fred Clark
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Michael Alfonso. Publishes an issues page with positions on housing, farms, education, immigration, a congressional stock-trading ban and health care, stated in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, Issues
Fred Clark. Was ranking Democratic member of the Assembly environment and forestry committee and publishes a detailed regional economic plan with specific federal proposals.
Sources: The Capital Times, Feb. 8, 2014, Campaign site, The New Northwoods
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Michael Alfonso. Publishes plain-language issue positions and has taken part in debates. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Issues, WXPR, July 8, 2026, Ballotpedia, Michael Alfonso
Fred Clark. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, publishes issue pages and a regional plan, holds town halls and takes part in debates.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Fred Clark, WEAU, Sept. 24, 2026, Campaign site, Issues
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Michael Alfonso. Says he was raised in the district and lives near Hayward. WPR reported he re-registered to vote in Wisconsin in January 2026 while keeping an active Florida registration. About 30 percent of itemized individual contributions came from Wisconsin.
Sources: Campaign site, Meet Michael, WPR, Feb. 24, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Fred Clark. Registered to vote in Bayfield, in the district, since 2022 after decades in the Baraboo area. About 88 percent of itemized individual contributions came from Wisconsin.
Sources: Superior Telegram, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Michael Alfonso. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 22, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Fred Clark. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 22, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Michael Alfonso. No public record found.
Fred Clark. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Michael Alfonso. No public record found.
Fred Clark. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Michael Alfonso. No public record found.
Fred Clark. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Michael Alfonso. No public record found.
Fred Clark. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Michael Alfonso. No public record found.
Fred Clark. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District?
Fred Clark has the strongest record in Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District. Fred Clark scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Fred Clark's highest marks are relevant experience and accountability. Michael Alfonso (7 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District in 2026?
Michael Alfonso (Republican), Fred Clark (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Michael Alfonso a good candidate for Congress?
Michael Alfonso has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Fred Clark a good candidate for Congress?
Fred Clark scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Wisconsin race scored, and the Wisconsin 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.