Republican Steve Toft Challenging US Rep. Ron Kind

A retired Army Colonel has announced he’s running against 10-term Democratic congressman Ron Kind.

Republican Steve Toft, of Osseo, announced Monday he would challenge Kind in next year’s election to represent the 3rd Congressional District. Toft said he’s a proven leader who wants to change Washington.

“I’m not a politician and I don’t want to become one. I’m a humble Wisconsin soldier who wants to continue to serve the people of the 3rd District,” Toft said. “The more I hear from the great people of west and central Wisconsin it is clear that status quo is no longer working. We need leaders in Washington that will fight for the people and not special interests. Career politicians like Ron Kind are part of the problem, not the solution.”

Toft served combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He moved back to the district last year after serving as post commander at Fort Sam Houston, Joint Base San Antonio in Texas.

Kind has represented the 3rd Congressional District since 1997, and he’s won eight out of nine of his last re-election bids by 13 percentage points or more. Republicans didn’t run a challenger against Kind, of La Crosse, in 2016.

Republicans in western Wisconsin say they’ve got momentum to oust Kind who has served 10 terms.

Brian Westrate is the 3rd Congressional District Chairman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin and it’s his job to help GOP candidates replace Kind.

Westrate said the party didn’t mount a challenge against Kind in the 2016 election cycle because no candidates came forward.

“So, if we go out and we get somebody just so that we have somebody on the ballot, we’re not expecting to win, we’re only providing a mental masturbatory option for the voters, which is to say those folks who just want to be able to check a box next to the Republican because they’re Republican,” Westrate said. “And God bless them, I value the 36 percent to 38 percent of the district that fit into that category. But when you do that you necessarily have $80,000 get sucked out.”

The minimum cost to challenge Kind is $80,000, Westrate said, and in 2016 he was able to use that money in state races. As a result Republicans picked up the 92nd Assembly District in western Wisconsin and the 24th Senate District in central Wisconsin. But 2018 will be different because, Westrate said, Toft is a strong candidate and outside help is already being offered.

“This is the first time in my experience where the political organization of the party, be it the Republican Party of Wisconsin, The Republican National Committee, the Office of Political Affairs from the White House where they came to the 3rd (District) looking to help as opposed to us having a candidate and having to go out into the marketplace and say, ‘Hey we’d like help,’” Westrate said.

Kind said in a statement he isn’t campaigning in earnest yet.

“Campaigns start way too early, last way too long, and cost way too much money,” Kind said. “I remain focused on the issues that impact Wisconsinites lives every day, including making sure they have access to affordable health care and good paying jobs.”

The closest a Republican candidate has come to beating Kind since he’s been in office was in 2010 when state Sen. Dan Kapanke came within 4 percentage points.