In Swing District That Trump Carried Twice, Wisconsin Dem U.S. House Rep Ron Kind Announces Retirement

In a blow to Democrats retaining the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep Ron Kind (D-WI) announced his retirement today.

According to Politico’s Ally Mutnick, Kind’s district, which spans southwestern Wisconsin, is one of only a handful of seats nationwide where Trump’s support increased between 2016 and 2020 and also is one that he carried in both elections.

NEWS: Rep. Ron Kind (D) will announce his retirement Tuesday from #WI03, a swing seat that Trump carried twice

This is a huge blow to Dems' chances of keeping their House majority

story TK w @sarahnferris @heatherscope

— Ally Mutnick (@allymutnick) August 10, 2021

Redistricting expert Dave Wasserman noted in a tweet, “Wisconsin is Dems’ redistricting problem in a nutshell.”

“Even though (Wisconsin) is evenly divided, (Republicans) could easily win 6/8 seats in 2022 (because Democrat) voters are so clustered in Madison & Milwaukee,” Wasserman continued.

Wasserman added, much to the chagrin of both parties for different reasons, “Trump carried 6/8 districts while losing (Wisconsin) in 2020…and not really (because) of gerrymandering.”

Wisconsin is Dems' redistricting problem in a nutshell. Even though WI is evenly divided, Rs could easily win 6/8 seats in 2022 b/c Dem voters are so clustered in Madison & Milwaukee.

Trump carried 6/8 districts while losing WI in 2020…and not really b/c of gerrymandering.

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) August 10, 2021

Mutnick reported that Kind’s seat was not expected to change significantly in redistricting, given that the state is not gaining or losing a district, and there is split partisan control of the state legislature and the governor’s mansion.

From Politico:

Kind, who has spent nearly 25 years in the House, faced a closer-than-expected race in his sprawling rural Wisconsin seat last fall. He beat his GOP challenger Derrick Van Orden by less than 3 percentage points in 2020, after winning by nearly 20 points the previous cycle.

Democrats close to Kind said he acknowledged his reelection would be tougher this year, with Van Orden, a retired Navy SEAL, seeking a rematch. The GOP candidate raised a whopping $750,000 last quarter, outpacing the incumbent. Still, Democratic lawmakers and strategists had expected Kind — who serves on the coveted Ways and Means panel — to run again.

The first word of Kind’s retirement shocked Democrats, his decision representing a disappointing turn for many who believed they had largely dodged a pre-midterm exodus.

Kind’s now-open seat joins a daunting list of other races Democrats will have to worry about as they head into the 2022 cycle on defense against an emboldened GOP, a potentially perilous redistricting and years of history pointing to the party in power usually losing in the midterms.

Kind is the latest swing-district Democrat not to seek reelection, including Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) and Conor Lamb (D-Pa.), who announced his Senate bid last week.