Preparing for the primary: Three Republican lawmakers vying for 6th District congressional seat

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Preparing for the primary: Three Republican candidates are on the campaign trail, trying to convince voters they should replace a long-time congressman. The election is in just six weeks.

The 6th District congressional seat has been held by Republican Tom Petri for nearly 35 years, but with his retirement, three Republican state lawmakers are locked in a close battle to replace him.

State Senator Joe Liebham (R-Sheboygan) says he's running as a reformer, who takes a positive approach.

"I want to try to bring new reform and leadership to Washington," Liebham said.

State Senator Glenn Grothman (R-Campbellsport) is staking a claim as the most conservative candidate.

"I have a history of taking leadership on conservative positions," Grothman said.

State Representative Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) calls himself a citizen legislator.

"I am a businessman and that's what I bring. I bring private sector experience," Stroebel said.

The 6th Congressional District spans 11 counties -- including Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Sheboygan.

All three are campaigning across the district -- sharing their positions on major issues, like the national debt.

"Right now with a $17 trillion deficit and the way we're racking that up, I mean where does that end?  We need people who are going to fix that, because if we don't you can forget about everything else," Stroebel said.

Grothman says the solution is deep cuts to welfare.

"I think you need somebody who has a history of when they look at a budget saying, we have to spend less, not people who get there and try to find little ways to spend more," Grothman said.

Leibham says his experience balancing the budget during the 2011 union fight would inform his decisions in Washington.

"Just like in Wisconsin, we have to be willing to take a look at everything and we've got to recognize that we've got to tighten our belt," Liebham said.

The Affordable Care Act continues to be a lightning rod for Republican voters, and all of the candidates used the same word in outlining their stances.

"ObamaCare needs to be repealed," Stroebel said.

"We've got to repeal it," Grothman said.

"I believe that ObamaCare should be repealed," Liebham said.

Immigration is thought to be the issue that led to former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's surprise defeat.

All three candidates took a hard-line position on border security.

"Our federal government has failed us on immigration. First and foremost, we need to secure the borders and stop the problem as it's allowing individuals to gain access to this nation," Liebham said.

"Both parties have been in favor of allowing people here illegally ahead of people on a waiting list who want to get here legally. That's going to destroy the country unless we turn it around," Grothman said.

"We have to secure the borders.  We have to secure the borders.  Once we secure the borders, I think those are things we need to look at," Stroebel said.

So far, one Democrat has announced his candidacy. He is Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris.

The primary election is August 12th.