He ran for the United States Senate in 2012, but lost the Republican primary by a wide margin to former Governor Tommy Thompson.

[1] Born in Chicago, Illinois, Fitzgerald moved with his family to Hustisford, Wisconsin.

He was a small business owner and served on the Beaver Dam, Wisconsin Common Council from 2000 to 2003.

[8] He lost the nomination on August 14, 2012 in a four-way primary battle against former Governor Tommy Thompson (the winner), millionaire Eric Hovde, and former Congressman Mark Neumann.

His older brother, Scott L. Fitzgerald, is the U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 5th congressional district, and the former State Senate Majority Leader.