Update on attack of 6th CD Candidate Joey Marschall 

This story updates an earlier report about Joey Marschall that we published on November 3, 2025.

OSHKOSH, WI—(WISS)— One of the candidates for U.S. Congress in Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District reported an attack at his home in October and has since called for an end to political violence. WISS requested records related to the incident from the Waushara County Sheriff’s office, which show there appear to be no suspects and no leads into the attack on Joey Marschall of Berlin.

The Attack

Marschall lives in rural Waushara County between Berlin and Poy Sippi. During the early morning hours of Thursday, October 23, 2025, Marschall called the Waushara County Sheriff’s Department to report a physical attack by an unknown assailant at his home.

According to records released to WISS, Marschall told deputies he was at home alone, waiting for his fiancée to return home from work. Marschall walked outside to his vehicle to retrieve a box from the back seat when he was attacked.

Documents from the Waushara County Sheriff’s Department state Marschall said the assailant came up behind him, slammed his head against the vehicle’s roof and door frame, and began beating him. Marschall fought back. The assailant then ran away.

Marschall described the assailant as a male wearing all-black clothing, a black winter hat, and a face covering.

The Investigation

The Waushara County Sheriff’s Department sent two deputies to investigate Marschall’s complaint. Marschall described the altercation to both deputies.

Deputy Connor Wilson’s report said he noticed no tracks or indications of anyone walking through the yard. He did note a small bruised mark on the corner of Marschall’s right eye, but the deputy stated in his report that he did not think it was consistent with a punch to the face. 

Deputy McKenna Brecht was dispatched to search the area for vehicles or foot traffic that might have been connected to the incident. The records show she did not locate any suspects or vehicles.

On body camera footage, Brecht is heard telling Marschall that, unfortunately, there are no leads and no suspects to follow up on in his attack. She also advised Marschall to install security cameras at his home.

Motivation

After the attack, Marschall told WISS he didn’t recognize his assailant, nor does he know why he was targeted. He is a member of the LGBTQIA+ Community, but doesn’t believe this was a hate crime. 

“We don’t have a big flag or anything outside. We are not hiding it, but we’re not flaunting it in front of people either,” he said.

Marschall believes the attack was politically motivated. He also held a protest outside of Incumbent Congressman Glenn Grothman’s Fond du Lac office against political violence after the attack. 

“ My only thought is that it has to be some type of politically related thing where I’m out in public all the time. I’m talking about things. A lot of people may not agree with the views that I’m making,” said Marschall. “It may be a combination of the things that I’m an openly gay man running as a candidate, but I think it has to be something dealing with politics.”

According to police reports and footage obtained by WISS, Marschall told the deputies the same thing. He could not think of anyone who might have wanted to harm him, but he thought it could be politically motivated because of his run for Congress.

The 6th Congressional District currently has seven Democrats running in a primary. They are Michael Heidenreich, Aaron Wojciechowski, Brad Smith, John Macho, Amanda Bell, Joey Marschall, and Kortney Oldham. 

On the Republican side, incumbent Grothman faces a challenge from Johnathan Peetz of Pardeeville.

The candidates will face off in the primaries on August 11, 2026. The general election will be on November 3, 2026.