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7 US House incumbents in Wis. win re-election

MILWAUKEE (AP) Seven U.S. House members won re-election Tuesday, and the eighth one — a freshman Democrat from northeast Wisconsin — had the early lead against a familiar, well-financed opponent.

Millionaire doctor Steve Kagan won his first run for public office two years ago, when he defeated former Assembly speaker John Gard by fewer than 6,000 votes. Gard had served more than 19 years in the Legislature when he lost his bid for the District 8 seat Republican Mark Green held for eight years.

Tuesday was a replay of that battle.

With 65 of 441 precincts reporting, Kagen had 24,469 votes, or 51 percent, and Gard had 23,923, or 49 percent.

Kagen, 58, was only the second Democrat to win in the sprawling 14-county district in the past 30 years. The area includes loggers in tiny towns like Florence, small businesses in Shawano and corporate executives in Green Bay and Appleton.

Incumbents generally win re-election because of the power of their offices and the money they can raise.

But Gard, 45, raised $1.4 million — just $400,000 less than Kagen — and as of Oct. 15, he had more cash on hand, $486,000 compared to Kagen's $193,000, according to Federal Election Commission reports. Kagen responded by dumping $180,000 of his own money into his campaign.

"I am working hard to bring about all the changes we need," said Kagen, whose victory in 2006 helped Democrats take control of the 435-member House after 12 years in the minority.

Gard blamed the Democratic Congress for the country's economic woes.

"Just ask yourself, 'Are you better off now than you were two years ago?'" he said.

Kagen, who founded allergy clinics in Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, campaigned on his votes to raise the minimum wage, give soldiers and veterans a pay raise, end the war in Iraq and reform the health care system.

It's been 10 years since an incumbent congressman has lost in Wisconsin — and that was former television anchor Jay Johnson, another Democrat seeking a second term in District 8.

Tuesday's other races:

— In District 1 in southeast Wisconsin, 38-year-old incumbent Republican Paul Ryan of Janesville defeated Democrat Marge Krupp of Pleasant Prairie, a 52-year-old chemical engineer and businesswoman, and Libertarian Joseph Kexel, 43, of Kenosha. Ryan has held the seat since 1999.

— In District 2 in southern Wisconsin, Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin of Madison defeated Republican Peter Theron, a 52-year-old teacher and computer software specialist. Baldwin, 46, took office in 1999 as the first Wisconsin woman elected to the House.

— In District 3 in western Wisconsin, Democratic incumbent Ron Kind, 45, of La Crosse, won a seventh term, beating Republican Paul Stark, 47, who owns a home building company in Eau Claire, and Libertarian Kevin Barrett, 49, of Lone Rock. Barrett was known for his claim that the U.S. government orchestrated the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

— In District 4 in Milwaukee, 57-year-old Democratic incumbent Gwen Moore, the first black person elected to Congress from Wisconsin, won a third term. She defeated Independent Michael LaForest, 52, a former Green Party candidate who said he now represented the Purple Party.

— In District 5, which covers Milwaukee's wealthy suburbs, Republican James Sensenbrenner of Menomonee Falls defeated Independent Robert Raymond, 54, of Shorewood. Sensenbrenner, 65, has held the seat for nearly 30 years.

— In District 6 in eastern Wisconsin, Republican incumbent Tom Petri of Fond du Lac defeated Democrat Roger Kittelson, a 51-year-old dairy marketing specialist from Lomira. Petri, 68, has held the seat since winning a 1979 special election.

— In District 7 in central and northern Wisconsin, Democrat Dave Obey, the dean of the state's congressional delegation, defeated Republican farmer Dan Mielke, 54, of Rudolph. Obey, 70, won the office in a 1969 special election and his seniority has made him one of the most powerful members of Congress.