Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district

(Redirected from WI-03)

Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district covers most of the Driftless Area in southwestern and western Wisconsin. The district includes the cities of Eau Claire, La Crosse, and Stevens Point, as well as many Wisconsin-based exurbs of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. It borders the states of Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. Republican Derrick Van Orden has represented the district since 2023.

Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Area13,565.50 sq mi (35,134.5 km2)
Distribution
  • 56.85% rural
  • 43.15% urban
Population (2023)739,552
Median household
income
$69,286[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+4[3]

The political nature of the district is moderate, given its combination of an overall rural and suburban character counterbalanced by two significant urban centers (Eau Claire and La Crosse) and the Twin Cities suburbs. It historically elected moderate Republicans; before Ron Kind's 1996 victory, only two Democrats represented it in the 20th century. Al Gore, John Kerry, and Barack Obama all carried the district at the presidential level; it then narrowly voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and again in 2020 with slightly increased margins, as a result, the Cook Partisan Voting Index adjusted the district's partisan lean in 2021 from "even" to R+4.

Counties and municipalities within the district

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# County Seat Population
1 Adams Friendship 20,875
11 Buffalo Alma 13,302
17 Chippewa Chippewa Falls 66,865
23 Crawford Prairie du Chien 16,075
33 Dunn Menomonie 45,547
35 Eau Claire Eau Claire 106,452
43 Grant Lancaster 52,110
53 Jackson Black River Falls 21,121
57 Juneau Mauston 26,802
63 La Crosse La Crosse 120,433
81 Monroe Sparta 46,193
91 Pepin Durand 7,364
93 Pierce Ellsworth 42,587
97 Portage Stevens Point 70,468
103 Richland Richland Center 17,212
121 Trempealeau Whitehall 30,724
123 Vernon Viroqua 30,915
141 Wood Wisconsin Rapids 74,070

Adams County

Adams, Arkdale, Dellwood, Friendship, Grand Marsh, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Camelot, Lake Sherwood, and Wisconsin Dells (Adams County section).

Buffalo County

Alma, Buffalo City, Cochrane, Fountain City, Mondovi, and Nelson.

Chippewa County

Chippewa Falls and Lake Hallie.

Crawford County

Bell Center, Eastman, Ferryville, Gays Mills, Lynxville, Mount Sterling, Prairie du Chien, Soldiers Grove, Steuben, and Wauzeka.

Dunn County

Boyceville, Colfax, Downing, Elk Mound, Knapp, Menomonie, Ridgeland, and Wheeler.

Eau Claire County

Altoona, Augusta, Eau Claire, Fairchild, and Fall Creek.

Grant County

Bagley, Boscobel, Bloomington, Blue River, Cassville, Cuba City, Dickeyville, Fennimore, Hazel Green, Lancaster, Livingston, Montfort, Muscoda, Platteville, Potosi, and Tennyson.

Jackson County

Alma Center, Black River Falls, Hixton, Melrose, and Taylor.

Juneau County

Camp Douglas, Elroy, Hustler, Lyndon Station, Mauston, Union Center, and Wonewoc.

La Crosse County

Bangor, Campbell, La Crosse, Holmen, Rockland, Onalaska, and West Salem.

Monroe County

Cashton, Kendall, Melvina, Norwalk, Oakdale, Sparta, Tomah, and Wilton.

Pepin County

Durand, Pepin, and Stockholm.

Pierce County

Bay City, Ellsworth, Maiden Rock, Plum City, Prescott, River Falls (Pierce County side), Spring Valley (Pierce County side).

Portage County

Almond, Amherst, Amherst Junction, Junction City, Nelsonville, Park Ridge, Plover, and Whiting.

Richland County

Boaz, Cazenovia, Lone Rock, Richland Center, Viola, and Yuba.

Trempealeau County

Arcadia, Blair, Eleva, Ettrick, Galesville, Independence, Pigeon Falls, Osseo, Strum, Trempealeau, and Whitehall.

Vernon County

Chaseburg, Coon Valley, De Soto, Genoa, Hillsboro, La Farge, Ontario, Readstown, Stoddard, Viroqua, and Westby.

Wood County

Biron, Milladore, Nekoosa, Port Edwards, Rudolph, and Vesper.

List of members representing the district

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Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history District
District established March 4, 1849
 
James Duane Doty
(Menasha)
Democratic March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1851
31st
32nd
Elected in 1848.
Re-elected in 1850.
Retired.
 
Brown, Calumet, Columbia, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Manitowoc, Marquette, Sheboygan, Washington, & Winnebago counties (& Door, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, & Waushara counties created from this territory during the 1850s)
Independent Democratic March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1853
John B. Macy
(Fond du Lac)
Democratic March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855
33rd Elected in 1852.
Lost re-election.
 
Charles Billinghurst
(Juneau)
Opposition March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857
34th
35th
Elected in 1854.
Re-elected in 1856.
Lost re-election.
Republican March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1859
 
Charles H. Larrabee
(Horicon)
Democratic March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861
36th Elected in 1858.
Lost re-election.
 
A. Scott Sloan
(Beaver Dam)
Republican March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1863
37th Elected in 1860.
Retired.
 
Amasa Cobb
(Mineral Point)
Republican March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1871
38th
39th
40th
41st
Elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
Re-elected in 1868.
Retired.
 
Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Richland, & Sauk counties
 
J. Allen Barber
(Lancaster)
Republican March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1875
42nd
43rd
Elected in 1870.
Re-elected in 1872.
Retired.
 
Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, & Richland counties
 
Henry S. Magoon
(Darlington)
Republican March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877
44th Elected in 1874.
Lost renomination.
 
George Cochrane Hazelton
(Boscobel)
Republican March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1883
45th
46th
47th
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Lost renomination.
 
Burr W. Jones
(Madison)
Democratic March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1885
48th Elected in 1882.
Lost re-election.
 
Dane, Grant, Green, Iowa, & Lafayette counties
 
Robert M. La Follette
(Madison)
Republican March 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1891
49th
50th
51st
Elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Lost re-election.
 
Allen R. Bushnell
(Madison)
Democratic March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1893
52nd Elected in 1890.
Retired.
 
Joseph W. Babcock
(Necedah)
Republican March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1907
53rd
54th
55th
56th
57th
58th
59th
Elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Lost re-election.
 
Adams, Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Juneau, Richland, Sauk, & Vernon counties
 
Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Juneau, Richland, Sauk, & Vernon counties
 
James William Murphy
(Platteville)
Democratic March 4, 1907 –
March 3, 1909
60th Elected in 1906.
Lost re-election.
 
Arthur W. Kopp
(Platteville)
Republican March 4, 1909 –
March 3, 1913
61st
62nd
Elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Retired.
 
John M. Nelson
(Madison)
Republican March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1919
63rd
64th
65th
Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Lost renomination.
 
Crawford, Dane, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, & Richland counties
 
James G. Monahan
(Darlington)
Republican March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1921
66th Elected in 1918.
Lost renomination.
 
John M. Nelson
(Madison)
Republican March 4, 1921 –
March 3, 1933
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
Elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Lost renomination.
 
Gardner R. Withrow
(La Crosse)
Republican March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935
73rd
74th
75th
Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Lost re-election.
 
Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Juneau, La Crosse, Lafayette, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, & Vernon counties
Progressive January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1939
 
Harry W. Griswold
(West Salem)
Republican January 3, 1939 –
July 4, 1939
76th Elected in 1938.
Died.
Vacant July 4, 1939 –
January 3, 1941
 
William H. Stevenson
(La Crosse)
Republican January 3, 1941 –
January 3, 1949
77th
78th
79th
80th
Elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Lost renomination.
 
Gardner R. Withrow
(La Crosse)
Republican January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1961
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
Elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Retired.
 
Vernon Wallace Thomson
(Richland Center)
Republican January 3, 1961 –
December 31, 1974
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
Elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Lost re-election and resigned early.
 
Buffalo, Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Lafayette, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Richland, Sauk, Trempealeau, & Vernon counties
 
Barron, Buffalo, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Richland, St. Croix, Trempealeau, & Vernon counties &
    • Monroe County
      • Town of Adrian
      • Town of Angelo
      • Town of Grant
      • Town of Greenfield
      • Town of Jefferson
      • Town of Lafayette
      • Town of La Grange
      • Town of Leon
      • Town of Lincoln
      • Town of Little Falls
      • Town of New Lyme
      • Town of Portland
      • Town of Ridgeville
      • Town of Sheldon
      • Town of Sparta
      • Town of Tomah
      • Town of Wells
      • Town of Wilton
      • Village of Cashton
      • Village of Melvina
      • Village of Norwalk
      • Village of Wilton
      • City of Sparta
      • City of Tomah
Vacant December 31, 1974 –
January 3, 1975
93rd
 
Alvin Baldus
(Menomonie)
Democratic January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1981
94th
95th
96th
Elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Lost re-election.
 
Steve Gunderson
(Osseo)
Republican January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1997
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
Elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Retired.
 
Barron, Buffalo, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Richland, St. Croix, Trempealeau, & Vernon counties &
most of Clark County, most of Grant County, southern of Polk County, & western of Richland County
    • Clark County
      • Town of Beaver
      • Town of Butler
      • Town of Dewhurst
      • Town of Eaton
      • Town of Foster
      • Town of Fremont
      • Town of Grant
      • Town of Hendren
      • Town of Hewett
      • Town of Levis
      • Town of Loyal
      • Town of Lynn
      • Town of Mead
      • Town of Mentor
      • Town of Pine Valley
      • Town of Seif
      • Town of Sherman
      • Town of Sherwood
      • Town of Unity
      • Town of Warner
      • Town of Washburn
      • Town of Weston
      • Town of York
      • Village of Grantors
      • City of Greenwood
      • City of Loyal
      • City of Neillsville
    • Grant County
      • Town of Beetown
      • Town of Bloomington
      • Town of Boscobel
      • Town of Cassville
      • Town of Castle Rock
      • Town of Clifton
      • Town of Ellenboro
      • Town of Fennimore
      • Town of Glen Haven
      • Town of Harrison
      • Town of Hickory Grove
      • Town of Jamestown
      • Town of Liberty
      • Town of Lima
      • Town of Little Grant
      • Town of Marion
      • Town of Millville
      • Town of Mt. Hope
      • Town of Mt. Ida
      • Town of Muscoda
      • Town of North Lancaster
      • Town of Paris
      • Town of Patch Grove
      • Town of Platteville
      • Town of Potosi
      • Town of South Lancaster
      • Town of Waterloo
      • Town of Watterstown
      • Town of Wingville
      • Town of Woodman
      • Town of Wyalusing
      • Village of Bagley
      • Village of Bloomington
      • Village of Blue River
      • Village of Cassville
      • Village of Dickeyville
      • Village of Mt. Hope
      • Village of Patch Grove
      • Village of Potosi
      • Village of Tennyson
      • Village of Woodman
      • the part of the village of Muscoda in the county
      • City of Boscobel
      • City of Fennimore
      • City of Lancaster
      • City of Platteville
    • Polk County
      • Town of Alden
      • Town of Apple River
      • Town of Balsam Lake
      • Town of Beaver
      • Town of Black Brook
      • Town of Clayton
      • Town of Clear Lake
      • Town of Farmington
      • Town of Garfield
      • Town of Johnstown
      • Town of Lincoln
      • Town of Osceola
      • Town of St. Croix Falls
      • Village of Balsam Lake
      • Village of Centuria
      • Village of Clayton
      • Village of Clear Lake
      • Village of Dresser
      • Village of Osceola
      • the part of the village of Turtle Lake in the county
      • City of Amery
      • City of St. Croix Falls
    • Richland County
      • Town of Akan
      • Town of Bloom
      • Town of Dayton
      • Town of Eagle
      • Town of Forest
      • Town of Henrietta
      • Town of Marshall
      • Town of Richland
      • Town of Richwood
      • Town of Rockbridge
      • Town of Sylvan
      • Village of Boaz
      • Village of Yuba
      • the part of the village of Viola in the county
      • City of Richland Center
1993–2003
 
 
Ron Kind
(La Crosse)
Democratic January 3, 1997 –
January 3, 2023
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
Elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Retired.
2003–2013
 
2013–2023
 
 
Derrick Van Orden
(Prairie du Chien)
Republican January 3, 2023 –
present
118th Elected in 2022. 2023–present
 

Recent election results

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2002 district boundaries (2002–2011)

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Year Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2002[4] Nov. 5 Ron Kind (inc) Democratic 131,038 62.82% Bill Arndt Rep. 69,955 33.54% 208,581 61,083
Jeff Zastrow Lib. 6,674 3.20%
2004[5] Nov. 2 Ron Kind (inc) Democratic 204,856 56.43% Dale W. Schultz Rep. 157,866 43.49% 363,008 46,990
2006[6] Nov. 7 Ron Kind (inc) Democratic 163,322 64.79% Paul R. Nelson Rep. 88,523 35.12% 252,087 74,799
2008[7] Nov. 4 Ron Kind (inc) Democratic 225,208 63.19% Paul Stark Rep. 122,760 34.44% 356,400 102,448
Kevin Barrett Lib. 8,236 2.31%
2010[8] Nov. 2 Ron Kind (inc) Democratic 126,380 50.28% Dan Kapanke Rep. 116,838 46.49% 251,340 9,542
Michael Krsiean Ind. 8,001 3.18%

2011 district boundaries (2012–2021)

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Year Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2012[9] Nov. 6 Ron Kind (inc) Democratic 217,712 64.08% Ray Boland Rep. 121,713 35.82% 339,764 95,999
2014[10] Nov. 4 Ron Kind (inc) Democratic 155,368 56.46% Tony Kurtz Rep. 119,540 43.44% 275,161 35,828
Ken Van Doren (write-in) Ind. 128 0.05%
2016[11] Nov. 8 Ron Kind (inc) Democratic 257,401 98.86% Ryan Peterson (write-in) Rep. 169 0.06% 260,370 254,601
2018[12] Nov. 6 Ron Kind (inc) Democratic 187,888 59.65% Steve Toft Rep. 126,980 40.31% 314,989 60,908
2020[13] Nov. 3 Ron Kind (inc) Democratic 199,870 51.30% Derrick Van Orden Rep. 189,524 48.64% 389,618 10,346

2022 district boundaries (2022–2031)

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Year Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
2022[14] Nov. 8 Derrick Van Orden Republican 164,743 51.82% Brad Pfaff Dem. 152,977 48.12% 317,922 11,766

Election results from statewide races

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Year Office Results
2000 President Al Gore 49% – George W. Bush 46%
2004 President John Kerry 51% – George W. Bush 48%
2008 President Barack Obama 58% – John McCain 41%
2012 President Barack Obama 54.8% – Mitt Romney 43.8%
2014 Governor Scott Walker 50.1% – Mary Burke 48.52%
2016 President Donald Trump 49.3% – Hillary Clinton 44.8%
Senator Ron Johnson 49.2% – Russ Feingold 47%
2018 Senator Tammy Baldwin 56.4% – Leah Vukmir 43.5%
Governor Tony Evers 49.8% – Scott Walker 47.9%
2020 President Donald Trump 52% - Joe Biden 46%
2022 Senator Ron Johnson 52.8% – Mandela Barnes 47.1%
Governor Tony Evers 49.6% – Tim Michels 49.1%
2023 Supreme Janet Protasiewicz 55% – Daniel Kelly 45%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "My Congressional District: Wisconsin Congressional District 3". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  2. ^ "Congressional District 3, WI". Census Reporter. 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  3. ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  4. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 2, 2002. p. 4. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  5. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2004. p. 3. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  6. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2006 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 5, 2006. p. 4. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  7. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2008. p. 3. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  8. ^ 2010 Fall General Election Results Summary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 1, 2010. p. 3. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  9. ^ Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 26, 2012. p. 3. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  10. ^ Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. November 26, 2014. p. 3. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  11. ^ Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. p. 3. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  12. ^ Canvass Results for 2018 General Election - 11/6/2018 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. February 22, 2019. p. 4. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  13. ^ Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 18, 2020. p. 2. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  14. ^ Canvass Results for 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 30, 2022. p. 3. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
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44°03′23″N 90°53′30″W / 44.05639°N 90.89167°W / 44.05639; -90.89167