Rep. Ron Kind is a senior Democrat from one of the most competitive swing districts. This is a devastating blow for House Democrats as they fight to keep their majority in November.According to reporters, the Wisconsin congressman declared his decision Tuesday afternoon. He said that he had run out of gas after thirteen terms in office.Kind stood beside his children and wife, saying that he had to undergo a serious job review every 2 years.Kind, who spent almost 25 years in Congress, was faced with a close race in his rural Wisconsin seat last year. After winning by almost 20 points in the previous cycle, he beat Derrick Van Orden, his GOP opponent, by just 3 percentage points in 2020.Kind's close friends said that Kind acknowledged that his reelection bid would be more difficult this year because Van Orden (a former Navy SEAL) is seeking a rematch. The GOP candidate raised $750,000 more than the incumbent last quarter. Still, Democratic strategists and lawmakers expected Kind to run again for the coveted Ways and Means committee.Democrats were shocked to hear Kind's first words of retirement. His decision was a disappointment for many who thought they had largely escaped a pre-midterm exodus.Kind's seat is now open and joins a long list of races Democrats will need to be concerned about as they enter the 2022 cycle. They must defend against an emboldened GOP, redistricting that could prove dangerous, and years of history that point to the party usually losing the midterms.Kind is the latest swing-district Democrat to not seek reelection. He joins Cheri Bustos, Conor Lamb (D.Pa.), and Ann Kirkpatrick (D.Ariz.).The Kinds district in southwestern Wisconsin is one of a few seats where Trump's support has increased between 2016-2020. Given that there was no gain or loss of a district in the state, and split partisan control over the governor's mansion and the state legislature, his seat was not likely to be changed significantly in redistricting.Continue the storyVan Orden, the Republican candidate for the nomination, stated that Kind's announcement was "indicative of what I hear every single day as I travel through the 3rd District: Wisconsinites desire a change."Kind, who is now 58, is not yet certain what his next steps will be. Although Kind, a Wisconsin Democrat, did not rule out a bid to the Senate in January, some Democrats privately speculated that he might seek a statewide bid. However, the primary is already crowded.Kind was a long-standing leader for moderate New Democrats and is a senior member on the Ways and Means Committee. Kind earned a reputation for being a calm-mannered, independent man who was not afraid to criticize Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He even opposed her in the leadership race.Kind, who is close to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer was not shy about saying that he felt the Democratic Caucus needed new leadership, having been led for over a decade by Jim Clyburn, Jim Pelosi and Jim Hoyer.Kind voted for Pelosi in the speaker's race earlier this year, despite his opposition to her. This was a narrow victory for what could be the last California Democrats leadership race.Pelosi released a statement Thursday stating that Congressman Kind will retire at the end this term. "Wisconsin and America will lose a public servant in Congress who dedicated decades to delivering results for the people," Pelosi said.Kind spoke out earlier this summer, saying that he enjoyed his work, but it's become so negative and polarized.He said that two-thirds (or more) of your colleagues from across the aisle came in to vote to reverse the election results hours after the insurrection.Kind announced his decision in Wisconsin Tuesday and stated that he would continue to be focused on Covid, economic development, and infrastructure. There are 16 months left. As they say, I'm going break the tape.James Arkin contributed to the report.
