Back in August Representative Ron Kind (D-La Crosse) announced he would not seek reelection in 2022 to Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional seat, which he has represented since 1997. Since his announcement, the field of candidates to replace him continues to grow.

On the Democratic side, current state Senator and former Wisconsin Agriculture Secretary Brad Pfaff was the first to throw his hat in the ring to replace Kind. Earlier this month, Kind endorsed Pfaff, who previously worked as a congressional aide for kind.

The following three Democrats have also joined the race and will face Pfaff in the Democratic primary:

• Rebecca Cooke, an Eau Claire small businesswoman and a member of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors (as an Evers appointee).
• Brett Knudsen, a U.S. Navy veteran, and political novice from Holmen; and
• Deb McGrath, an Army veteran, former CIA employee, and the daughter of Al Baldus, who represented the 3rd Congressional District for three terms in the late 70’s.

At this time there is only once declared candidate on the Republican side, Derrick Van Orden who narrowly lost to Kind in 2020. Van Orden, a retired Navy Seal and business consultant, has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional seat is a battleground district that could flip the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representative and is one of the most-watched congressional races nationally in the upcoming mid-term elections.