State Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, will take U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin’s seat in Congress after handedly defeating his Republican opponent Chad Lee in the 2nd Congressional District election Tuesday.
Pocan will become the district’s second consecutive openly gay representative, earning 61 percent of the vote to Lee’s 39 percent with just under 40 percent of precincts reporting. The Associated Press called the race for Pocan shortly after 9 p.m.
Addressing a crowd of Democratic supporters at Baldwin’s election night party at the Monona Terrace, Pocan pledged to uphold the “rich character” of the district, which has been represented by progressive heroes such as Bob La Follette, Robert Kastenmeir and Baldwin.
“I know this is a seat where we expect our representatives to work hard for the progressive values and the middle class and lower-income families in Wisconsin and I will do that,” Pocan said.
Pocan lamented the partisan gridlock that has plagued Washington in recent years, but said he would work with the other side without sacrificing his core beliefs.
“At the end of the day we have one job-- that’s to actually get something done,” Pocan told the audience. “It doesn’t mean you have to compromise your values, but you do have to find compromise.
Pocan said he will make rebuilding the economy his top priority and advocate for tax breaks for the middle class rather than the wealthy. He also said he would fight for a single-payer, Medicare-for-all health care system and equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation.
“We have much to do, and I am up for the fight,” Pocan said.
