Former La Crosse County Board member Tara Johnson today announced she will seek the Dem nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, in 2024.
Johnson told WisPolitics she was compelled to get into the race because the western Wisconsin seat is “represented by an extremist who does not reflect the values of this district.”
Johnson is the third Dem to announce plans to run, joining Rebecca Cooke, an Eau Claire nonprofit owner, and Aaron Nytes, a student at Harvard University who plans to move to La Crosse in May.
Johnson served on the La Crosse County Board from 2000-2020, including a nine-year stint as chair that began in 2011. Since opting against seeking reelection to the board, she has been engaged in a variety of volunteer work, such as serving on the board of directors for the La Crosse Community Foundation and the board of the La Crosse County Dems.
“My whole life, I have been working in my community to make it better, solving problems and getting stuff done,” Johnson said. “I feel like I need to put that experience in service to the district.”
Johnson said health care and reproductive rights will be key issues in her campaign, saying it is “unconscionable” that her 24-year-old daughter has fewer rights than she did at that age.
She also announced former Army and CIA officer Deb McGrath, who ran for the 3rd CD in 2022 and considered another bid, is endorsing her campaign. McGrath finished third in the Dem primary a year ago.
State Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, told WisPolitics she’s been meeting with people across the 3rd CD as she considers a bid, but doesn’t have a timeline for a final decision.
“I’m focused on serving my community, and people are encouraging me to run because I’ve run and won,” said Shankland, who first won a seat in the Assembly in 2012.
