Paul Wassgren is a conservative businessman and fifth-generation resident of Ashland who is running for Congress to represent Northern Wisconsin. Last week, he gave the following speech to Republican Party delegates at the 7th Congressional District Caucus.
Ladies and gentlemen,
By now, I have had the privilege of meeting most of you personally. I have shaken your hand, looked you in the eye, and listened to what’s on your mind. I have heard your concerns about jobs, about the future of our communities, and about whether our children and grandchildren will have the opportunity to stay here in northern Wisconsin.
And many of you have heard my story as well.
I am a fifth-generation Ashland native, born and raised right here in this district. My grandparents owned the Mountain Valley Cheese Factory. They created jobs, built a business from the ground up, and helped support our community. From them, I learned the values that define this district—hard work, personal responsibility, and the belief that if you want something in life, you earn it.
Nothing was handed to me. That’s the Republican way. That’s the Wisconsin way.
I competed for a merit-based scholarship to attend Pepperdine University, a conservative Christian university, where I completed my economics degree in just two years in order to save money. From there, I earned the opportunity to study business and law at Oxford University like Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana.
Related: Paul Wassgren Commits Additional $1 Million to House Campaign
Since then, I have spent more than twenty years as a corporate attorney and entrepreneur. I have built nine businesses of my own and represented business owners across the country. Together we’ve created thousands of jobs and invested billions of dollars into communities that needed opportunity—communities like ours.
During the first Trump administration, I worked alongside the president’s appointees advocating for the Qualified Opportunity Zone program, which helped drive investment into distressed regions across America, including communities here in the 7th district.
Before I entered this race, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with one of my heroes, Senator Ron Johnson. His message was simple: Washington needs more experienced business leaders who understand how the real economy works and who have the courage to restore common sense to government and finally balance the budget.
And that brings us to the choice in front of us today.
This decision isn’t just about choosing a candidate. It’s about choosing the kind of leadership we send to Washington.
And let me say something plainly.
Congress is not an internship or a job training program.
Congress is where decisions are made that affect millions of Americans, billions of dollars, and the future of this great nation. The stakes are high.
We need someone who has already built businesses, signed paychecks, navigated regulations, and fought through the legal and economic realities that shape our complex economy.
Because if we want to make Wisconsin and America great again, we must first make them competitive again.
That means three things: deregulation, tax reform, and the eradication of frivolous lawsuits that choke off investment and punish job creators.
Only someone who understands business, the legal system, and the investment climate can effectively fight those battles in Washington.
And if we get it right, the opportunities ahead of us are enormous.
Projects like the $1.5 billion aviation fuel plant in Sawyer County will create thousands of high-paying jobs. New industries—from rare earth mining to infrastructure development—can bring investment and opportunity back to the Northland.
My former clients and colleagues in the investment world are ready to bring tens of billions of dollars into places like northern Wisconsin. But they will only do so if we create the right economic environment.
That’s the fight we must win.
Some of the most successful business leaders in America have hired me to represent them. They can hire anyone they want. They hire me because they know I have the experience and the skill set to get results.
Today, I humbly ask for the chance to put that same experience to work for you.
Send someone to Washington who has the skills to hit the ground running. Someone who understands business, understands the economy, and understands this district because he was born and raised here.
With your support, we can restore opportunity, bring investment back to northern Wisconsin, and ensure that the next generation has every reason to build their future right here at home.
I ask for your vote, your support, and your trust.
God bless you, and God bless the great state of Wisconsin!
Learn more about Paul Wassren and his campaign at paulwassgren.com
**PAID FOR BY WASSGREN FOR CONGRESS**
Last Update: Mar 16, 2026 4:30 pm CDT
