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Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district

U.S. House district for Wisconsin

U.S. House district for Wisconsin

FieldValue
stateWisconsin
district number3
image name
image captionInteractive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
representativeDerrick Van Orden
partyRepublican
residencePrairie du Chien
english area13,565.50
percent urban43.15
percent rural56.85
population740,873
population year2024
median income$73,367
ethnicity ref
percent white89.1
percent asian2.3
percent black1.2
percent native american0.6
percent more than one race3.1
percent hispanic3.3
percent other race0.3
cpviR+3

| percent more than one race = 3.1 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 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.

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, leading the Cook Partisan Voting Index to adjust the district's partisan lean in 2021 from "even" to R+4.

Composition

By county

CountyPop.Share
La Crosse120,78416.39%
Eau Claire105,71014.35%
Portage70,3779.55%
Grant51,9387.05%
Dunn45,4406.17%
Wood43,8205.95%
Pierce42,2125.73%
Monroe41,5895.65%
Chippewa35,1114.77%
Trempealeau30,7604.18%
Vernon30,7144.17%
Juneau20,8062.82%
Adams20,6542.80%
Jackson19,0882.59%
Richland17,3042.35%
Crawford16,1132.19%
Buffalo13,3171.81%
Pepin7,3180.99%
Sauk3,6610.50%

By community

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties, towns, and municipalities:

Adams County (20) : All 20 towns and municipalities

Buffalo County (23) : All 23 towns and municipalities

Chippewa County (7) : Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire (shared with Eau Claire County), Hallie, Howard, Lafayette, Lake Hallie, Wheaton

Crawford County (22) : All 22 towns and municipalities

Dunn County (30) : All 30 towns and municipalities

Eau Claire County (18) : All 18 towns and municipalities

Grant County (52) : All 52 towns and municipalities

Jackson County (21) : Albion, Alma, Alma Center, Black River Falls, Brockway, Curran, Franklin, Garfield, Hixton (town), Hixton (village), Irving, Komensky, Manchester, Melrose (town), Melrose (village), Merrillan (part; also 7th), Millston, North Bend, Northfield, Springfield, Taylor

Juneau County (23) : Camp Douglas, Clearfield (part; also 7th), Elroy, Fountain, Germantown (part; also 7th), Hustler, Kildare, Lemonweir, Lindina, Lisbon, Lyndon, Lyndon Station, Marion, Mauston, New Lisbon, Orange, Plymouth, Seven Mile Creek, Summit, Union Center, Wisconsin Dells (part; also 2nd and 6th; shared with Adams, Columbia, and Sauk counties), Wonewoc (town), Wonewoc (village)

La Crosse County (18) : All 18 towns and municipalities

Monroe County (29) : Adrian, Angelo, Cashton, Clifton, Glendale, Grant, Greenfield, Kendall, Jefferson, Kendall, Lafayette, Leon, Little Falls, Melvina, New Lyme, Norwalk, Oakdale (town), Oakdale (village), Portland, Ridgeville, Sheldon, Sparta (city), Sparta (town), Tomah (city), Tomah (town), Wellington, Wells, Wilton (town), Wilton (village)

Pepin County (11) : All 11 towns and municipalities

Pierce County (25) : All 25 towns and municipalities

Portage County (28) : All 28 towns and municipalities

Richland County (22) : All 22 towns and municipalities

Sauk County (5) : Ironton (town) (part; also 2nd), Ironton (village), La Valle (town), La Valle (village), Woodland

Trempealeau County (26) : All 26 towns and municipalities

Vernon County (33) : All 33 towns and municipalities

Wood County (16) : Biron, Cranmoor, Grand Rapids, Milladore (town), Milladore (village), Nekoosa, Port Edwards (town), Port Edwards (village), Rudolph (town), Rudolph (village), Saratoga, Seneca, Sherry, Sigel, Vesper, Wisconsin Rapids

List of members representing the district

MemberPartyYearsCong
ressElectoral historyDistrict
District established March 4, 1849
[[File:James Duane Doty daguerreotype by Mathew Brady.jpg100px]]
James Duane Doty
(Menasha)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1851Elected in 1848.
Re-elected in 1850.
Retired.[[File:1849 WI Cong 03.svgframelesscenter150px]] Brown, Calumet, Columbia, Dodge, Jefferson, Manitowoc, Marquette, Sheboygan, Washington, & Winnebago counties (& Door, , Kewaunee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, & Waushara counties created from this territory during the 1850s)
Independent DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1853
John B. Macy
(Fond du Lac)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855Elected in 1852.
Lost re-election.
[[File:Charles Billinghurst (Wisconsin Congressman).jpg100px]]
Charles Billinghurst
(Juneau)OppositionnowrapMarch 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857Elected in 1854.
Re-elected in 1856.
Lost re-election.
RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1859
[[File:CharlesHLarrabee (cropped).jpg100px]]
Charles H. Larrabee
(Horicon)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861Elected in 1858.
Lost re-election.
[[File:Andrew Scott Sloan (Wisconsin Congressman).jpg100px]]
A. Scott Sloan
(Beaver Dam)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1863Elected in 1860.
Retired.
[[File:Col. Amasa Cobb, 5th Wis. Inf - NARA - 527300.jpg100px]]
Amasa Cobb
(Mineral Point)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1871Elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
Re-elected in 1868.
Retired.[[File:1861 WI Cong 03.svgframelesscenter150px]] Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Richland, & Sauk counties
[[File:J. Allen Barber (Wisconsin Congressman).jpg100px]]
J. Allen Barber
(Lancaster)RepublicanMarch 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1875Elected in 1870.
Re-elected in 1872.
Retired.
[[File:1871 WI Cong 03.svgframelesscenter150px]] Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, & Richland counties
[[File:HenrySMagoon.jpg100px]]
Henry S. Magoon
(Darlington)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877Elected in 1874.
Lost renomination.
[[File:George Cochrane Hazelton (Wisconsin Congressman).jpg100px]]
George Cochrane Hazelton
(Boscobel)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1883Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Lost renomination.
[[File:Congressman Burr W. Jones.png100px]]
Burr W. Jones
(Madison)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1885Elected in 1882.
Lost re-election.[[File:1882 WI Cong 03.svgframelesscenter150px]] Dane, Grant, Green, Iowa, & Lafayette counties
[[File:La Folette (i.e. La Follette) Hon. R.M Crop.jpg100px]]
Robert M. La Follette
(Madison)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1891Elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Lost re-election.
[[File:Allen_R._Bushnell.png100px]]
Allen R. Bushnell
(Madison)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1893Elected in 1890.
Retired.
[[File:Josephweeksbabcock.gif100px]]
Joseph W. Babcock
(Necedah)RepublicanMarch 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1907Elected 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.[[File:1892 WI Cong 03.svgframelesscenter150px]] Adams, Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Juneau, Richland, Sauk, & Vernon counties
[[File:1902 WI Cong 03.svgframelesscenter150px]] Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Juneau, Richland, Sauk, & Vernon counties
[[File:James W. Murphy (Wisconsin Congressman).jpg100px]]
James William Murphy
(Platteville)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1907 –
March 3, 1909Elected in 1906.
Lost re-election.
[[File:ArthurWKopp.jpg100px]]
Arthur W. Kopp
(Platteville)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1909 –
March 3, 1913Elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Retired.
[[File:John Mandt Nelson.png100px]]
John M. Nelson
(Madison)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1919Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Lost renomination.[[File:1912 WI Cong 03.svgframelesscenter150px]] Crawford, Dane, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, & Richland counties
[[File:JamesGMonahan.jpg100px]]
James G. Monahan
(Darlington)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1921Elected in 1918.
Lost renomination.
[[File:John Mandt Nelson.png100px]]
John M. Nelson
(Madison)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1921 –
March 3, 1933Elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Lost renomination.
[[File:GardnerRWithrow.jpg100px]]
Gardner R. Withrow
(La Crosse)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Lost re-election.[[File:1931 WI Cong 03.svgframelesscenter150px]] Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Juneau, , Lafayette, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, & Vernon counties
ProgressivenowrapJanuary 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1939
[[File:Harry W. Griswold (Wisconsin Congressman).jpg100px]]
Harry W. Griswold
(West Salem)RepublicannowrapJanuary 3, 1939 –
July 4, 1939Elected in 1938.
Died.
VacantnowrapJuly 4, 1939 –
January 3, 1941
[[File:William H. Stevenson (Wisconsin congressman).jpg100px]]
William H. Stevenson
(La Crosse)RepublicannowrapJanuary 3, 1941 –
January 3, 1949Elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Lost renomination.
[[File:GardnerRWithrow.jpg100px]]
Gardner R. Withrow
(La Crosse)RepublicannowrapJanuary 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1961Elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Retired.
[[File:Vernon Wallace Thomson.jpg100px]]
Vernon Wallace Thomson
(Richland Center)RepublicanJanuary 3, 1961 –
December 31, 1974Elected 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.
[[File:1963 WI Cong 03.svgframelesscenter150px]] Buffalo, Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Jackson, Juneau, , Lafayette, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Richland, Sauk, Trempealeau, & Vernon counties
[[File:1972 WI Cong 03.svgframelesscenter150px]] Barron, Buffalo, Crawford, Dunn, , Grant, Jackson, , Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Richland, , Trempealeau, & Vernon counties & {{Collapsible listtitle=titlestyle=background:transparent;text-align:center;padding-center:1.0em;font-size:85%;
VacantnowrapDecember 31, 1974 –
January 3, 1975
[[File:AlvinBaldus.jpg100px]]
Alvin Baldus
(Menomonie)DemocraticnowrapJanuary 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1981Elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Lost re-election.
[[File:SteveGunderson.jpg100px]]
Steve Gunderson
(Osseo)RepublicanJanuary 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1997Elected 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.
[[File:1982 WI Cong 03.svgframelesscenter150px]] Barron, Buffalo, Crawford, Dunn, , Grant, Jackson, , Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Richland, , Trempealeau, & Vernon counties & {{Collapsible listtitle=, , ,titlestyle=background:transparent;text-align:center;padding-center:1.0em;font-size:85%;
1993–2003
[[File:WisCongMap1993.jpgcenter150px]]
[[File:Ron Kind, Official Portrait, 115th Congress.jpg100px]]
Ron Kind
(La Crosse)DemocraticJanuary 3, 1997 –
January 3, 2023Elected 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
[[File:WI 3rd Congressional District.pngframelesscenter300px]]
2013–2023
[[File:Wisconsin US Congressional District 3 (since 2013).tifcenter300px]]
[[File:Congressman dvo (1).jpg100px]]
Derrick Van Orden
(Prairie du Chien)RepublicanJanuary 3, 2023 –
presentElected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024.2023–present
[[File:Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district (since 2023).svgcenter300px]]

Recent election results

2002 district boundaries (2002–2011)

YearDateElectedDefeatedTotalPlurality20022004200620082010
Ron Kind (inc)Democratic131,03862.82%Bill ArndtRep.69,95533.54%208,58161,083
Jeff ZastrowLib.6,6743.20%
Ron Kind (inc)Democratic204,85656.43%Dale W. SchultzRep.157,86643.49%363,00846,990
Ron Kind (inc)Democratic163,32264.79%Paul R. NelsonRep.88,52335.12%252,08774,799
Ron Kind (inc)Democratic225,20863.19%Paul StarkRep.122,76034.44%356,400102,448
Kevin BarrettLib.8,2362.31%
Ron Kind (inc)Democratic126,38050.28%Dan KapankeRep.116,83846.49%251,3409,542
Michael KrsieanInd.8,0013.18%

2011 district boundaries (2012–2021)

YearDateElectedDefeatedTotalPlurality20122014201620182020
Ron Kind (inc)Democratic217,71264.08%Ray BolandRep.121,71335.82%339,76495,999
Ron Kind (inc)Democratic155,36856.46%Tony KurtzRep.119,54043.44%275,16135,828
Ken Van Doren (write-in)Ind.1280.05%
Ron Kind (inc)Democratic257,40198.86%Ryan Peterson (write-in)Rep.1690.06%260,370254,601
Ron Kind (inc)Democratic187,88859.65%Steve ToftRep.126,98040.31%314,98960,908
Ron Kind (inc)Democratic199,87051.30%Derrick Van OrdenRep.189,52448.64%389,61810,346

2022 district boundaries (2022–2031)

YearDateElectedDefeatedTotalPlurality20222024
Nov. 8Derrick Van OrdenRepublican164,74351.82%Brad PfaffDem.152,977
Nov. 5Derrick Van OrdenRepublican212,06451.3%Rebecca CookeDem.200,808

Recent election results from statewide races

YearOfficeResults
2008PresidentObama 59% - 39%
2010SenateJohnson 50% - 48%
GovernorWalker 51% - 47%
Secretary of StateLa Follette 53% - 47%
Attorney GeneralVan Hollen 56% - 44%
TreasurerSchuller 51% - 49%
2012PresidentObama 56% - 44%
SenateBaldwin 53% - 44%
Governor (recall)Walker 52% - 47%
2014GovernorWalker 50% - 48%
Secretary of StateLa Follette 52% - 44%
Attorney GeneralSchimel 50% - 47%
TreasurerSartori 47% - 46%
2016PresidentTrump 49% - 44%
SenateJohnson 49% - 47%
2018SenateBaldwin 56% - 44%
GovernorEvers 50% - 48%
Secretary of StateLa Follette 53% - 47%
Attorney GeneralKaul 50% - 48%
TreasurerGodlewski 51% - 46%
2020PresidentTrump 51% - 47%
2022SenateJohnson 53% - 47%
GovernorEvers 50% - 49%
Secretary of StateLoudenbeck 50% - 46%
Attorney GeneralToney 50.4% - 49.5%
TreasurerLeiber 51% - 46%
2024PresidentTrump 53% - 45%
SenateHovde 51% - 47%

References

References

  1. (2024). "My Congressional District: Wisconsin Congressional District 3".
  2. (2019). "Congressional District 3, WI".
  3. (April 3, 2025). "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)".
  4. [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST55/CD118_WI01.pdf https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST55/CD118_WI03.pdf]
  5. (December 2, 2002). "Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002". Wisconsin State Elections Board.
  6. (December 1, 2004). "Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004". Wisconsin State Elections Board.
  7. (December 5, 2006). "Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2006". Wisconsin State Elections Board.
  8. (December 1, 2008). "Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008". Wisconsin State Elections Board.
  9. (December 1, 2010). "2010 Fall General Election Results Summary". [[Wisconsin Government Accountability Board]].
  10. (December 26, 2012). "Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012". [[Wisconsin Government Accountability Board]].
  11. (November 26, 2014). "Canvass Results for 2014 General Election - 11/4/2014". [[Wisconsin Government Accountability Board]].
  12. (December 22, 2016). "Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016". [[Wisconsin Elections Commission]].
  13. (February 22, 2019). "Canvass Results for 2018 General Election - 11/6/2018". [[Wisconsin Elections Commission]].
  14. (November 18, 2020). "Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020". [[Wisconsin Elections Commission]].
  15. (November 30, 2022). "Canvass Results for 2022 General Election - 11/8/2022". [[Wisconsin Elections Commission]].
  16. "Dra 2020".
  17. (2022). "Ward by Ward Report by Congressional District - United States Senator".
  18. (2022). "Ward by Ward Report by Congressional District - Governor/Lieutenant Governor".
  19. (2022). "Ward by Ward Report by Congressional District - Secretary of State".
  20. (2022). "Ward by Ward Report by Congressional District - Attorney General".
  21. (2022). "Ward by Ward Report by Congressional District - State Treasurer".
  22. (2024). "Ward by Ward Report by Congressional District_November 5 2024 General Election_Federal and State Contests".
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