Four Congressional races to watch

By WisPolitics.com staff

With Election Day about a month away, insiders are watching four congressional races around the state.

Janesville’s Paul Ryan is running for both vice president and to hold his 1st Congressional District seat. He’s favored to beat Democrat Rob Zerban of Kenosha. But insiders are watching to see how Ryan’s new national profile affects his standing at home.

The state’s only open congressional seat is in the 2nd Congressional District around Madison. Tammy Baldwin is leaving the seat she won 14 years ago to run for the U.S. Senate. Insiders say state Assemblyman Mark Pocan of Madison should beat Republican Chad Lee of Mount Horeb in the heavily Democratic district.

Two Republican freshman in northern Wisconsin appear to have much more competitive races.

Sean Duffy of the Wausau area and Reid Ribble from the Green Bay area are getting a lot of national Republican help as polls from their Democratic challengers indicate the races may be tightening. Duffy is opposed in the 7th Congressional District by former state Sen. Pat Kreitlow of Chippewa Falls, and Ribble is opposed in the 8th Congressional District by business consultant Jamie Wall.

Going into Nov. 6, Republicans hold the edge in Wisconsin’s U.S. House delegation, 5-3.

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