Ron Kind has first GOP challenger for 2018, retired military vet Steve Toft

Toft says Kind has nothing to show
of 20 years, but defends Paul Ryan’s tenure

A western Wisconsin Republican announcing his run for Congress says it’s time for Ron Kind to retire.

Monday in La Crosse, Steve Toft is the first to announce his run against 3rd District incumbent Kind.

The retired Army Colonel and Osseo, Wis., native says Democrat Kind has little to show for 20 years in the House. Toft criticizes Kind as a career politician with few accomplishments.

“No one party’s fully to blame for the failings in Washington,” Toft said. “But, make no mistake, Ron Kind and career politicians like him, are part of the problem.”

Toft said, although House Speaker Paul Ryan has been in Congress for nearly 20 years himself, Ryan has shown leadership.

Toft says he supports programs to help farmers and seniors, and to keep Washington out of health care. During the press conference, Toft especially criticized Kind for not serving on the House Agriculture Committee.

“If I get elected, you know where I’ll be on the first day?” Toft said. “I’ll be standing on the Speaker’s desk saying, ‘I want to be on the AG committee. I want to support west and central Wisconsin’s farmers.'”

Toft was also quick to point out that he doesn’t endorse President Donald Trump 100 percent.

“I don’t agree with everything President Trump stands for, everything that he says or the way that he communicates, especially, but where we have differences, I’ll be respectful,” Toft said.

Toft recently retired after more than 30 years in the Army. He is a graduate of Osseo-Fairchild High School and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.