In 2022, Wisconsin will host at least two key congressional races affecting the political balance of power in Washington, D.C. First, one of the state’s two seats in the U.S. Senate will be on the ballot statewide. The seat is currently held by Republican Senator Ron Johnson, who has yet to announce whether he will seek a third term.
On the Democratic side, ten people are currently running for their party’s nomination for that race, including Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes and Wisconsin Treasurer Sarah Godlewski. Activist Steven Olikara has formed an exploratory committee but has yet to enter the race. State Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee), who was also in the running for the nomination, announced on August 3 that he was suspending his campaign and endorsing Lt. Gov. Barnes.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District will be open for the first time in 26 years. Representative Ron Kind (D-La Crosse), who has represented the area since 1997, announced at a press conference on August 10 that he would not seek reelection in 2022. Most recently, in 2020, Rep. Kind defeated Republican challenger Derrick Van Orden by 51.3 to 48.6 percent. In April, Van Orden announced that he would run for the seat again next year.
Currently, five of Wisconsin’s eight congressional districts are represented by Republicans, and three by Democrats.