MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin will have a 5 to 3 Republican majority in the U.S. House after picking up two seats in Tuesday’s elections.
Appleton Democrat Steve Kagen got 45 percent of the vote in losing to De Pere roofing contractor Reid Ribble.
And former prosecutor and reality TV star Sean Duffy will be northern Wisconsin’s first Republican House member in 41 years. He defeated Democratic state Senator Julie Lassa 52 to 44 percent to win the seat held by the retiring appropriations chairman David Obey of Wausau.
Ribble said his family business expertise would help him boost the economy and cut the federal deficit. Kagen, an allergist, said he would battle on and – “The first day of the next campaign cycle starts tomorrow.”
La Crosse House Democrat Ron Kind won his 7th term, defeating state Senate Republican Dan Kapanke 50 to 46 percent. Independent Michael Krsiean got the other 4 percent.
Five other Wisconsin House incumbents easily won re-election. Republicans Paul Ryan, Jim Sensenbrenner and Tom Petri, and Democrats Gwen Moore and Tammy Baldwin had between 62 and 71 percent of the vote.
