Democrat Ron Kind wins 8th term in U.S. House

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) - Democratic Rep. Ron Kind has held onto his U.S. House seat, winning his eighth straight term representing southwest Wisconsin.
 
Kind defeated Republican Ray Boland on Tuesday in the 3rd District, which covers the La Crosse area.
 
A Harvard-educated former prosecutor, Kind has led efforts in Congress to reduce farm subsidies and sits on the powerful tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.
 
Considered a moderate, his name was mentioned as Democrats looked for a candidate to challenge Republican Gov. Scott Walker during this year's recall elections.
 
The 49-year-old Kind had a large cash advantage during his congressional campaign, having raised about $1.9 million compared to Boland's $108,000 as of mid-October.
 
Boland is a retired colonel and Wisconsin's former Secretary of Veteran Affairs. He served in state government until 2003.