There may be a competitive race developing up in Wisconsin’s Eighth Congressional District. UW Green Bay political scientist Michael Kraft says incumbent Democrat, congressman Steve Kagen, faces a challenge in his northeastern Wisconsin district which includes Green Bay and the Fox Valley. “Kagen has won by fairly slim margins, and even though I think he’s still considered by most pollsters and analysts to be favored, it is at the moment a competitive race,” says Kraft.
Facing off in the Republican primary are state Representative Roger Roth and former state Rep Terri McCormick, both of Appleton, and DePere roofing contractor Reid Ribble. “If I had to guess, I would say it’s between McCormick and Ribble, with Ribble being far ahead,” says Kraft, noting that Ribble has run more television ads than his opponents. “As far as I can tell, looking at the FEC reports, a fair portion of what he’s raised (in campaign contributions), is coming from outside the state, which is unusual for a congressional race by a challenger.”
Kagen first elected in 2007, has a substantial fundraising advantage over all three Republicans, according to FEC reports cited Friday by WisPolitics. The district has tended to send Republicans to Washington but Kraft says demographic changes make it more competitive.