Meet Randy Bryce, 1st Congressional District Candidate

RACINE COUNTY, WI — Wisconsin Democratic candidate Randy Bryce has long taken aim at incumbent Republican Paul Ryan in Wisconsin's First Congressional District. When Ryan announced that he is no longer seeking re-election, it opened the door for numerous candidates to take the seat.

On Tuesday, Aug. 14, Bryce will square off against several Democratic candidates in the primary election for the chance to advance to the November general election.

Bryce, a 53-year-old ironworker from Caledonia, says he champions building a strong middle class while protecting civil rights for all. Bryce believes in Medicare for all, and protecting people who paid into their pensions over their careers.

We reached out to the Bryce campaign to learn more about his candidacy. Here are his responses in his own words:

Name: Randy Bryce
Age: 53
Hometown: Caledonia
Occupation: Ironworker

Please characterize where you fall on the political spectrum (liberal/moderate/conservative, etc.):
One of the problems with our current politics is seeing things through the lens of liberal or conservative. Elected officials at all levels of government need to weigh decisions based on what’s best for our working people. How do we help to raise people up from poverty?

How do we expand the middle class? How do we best protect individual freedoms and civil rights? Those are the questions that I will ask myself when deciding how to vote for any piece of legislation. I'm here to fight to make the lives of working families in Wisconsin better.

Please describe your relevant political experience:
I have served for several years as the Political Coordinator for Ironworkers Local 8. In that position I was able to help bridge the gap between labor and outside movements/organizations. For example, when Voces De La Frontera was forming, I helped to bring in support from the labor movement to assist in their efforts. In 2011 when Scott Walker and the Republicans in Madison proposed Act 10, I helped to organize private sector unions to join in support of public sector unions.

Please talk about the top 1 or 2 leading issues in your campaign and how you plan to approach them if elected:

I believe we need Medicare For All because our current healthcare system does not work for middle-class families. With healthcare tied to employment, families can face sudden loss of care if the head of the household loses their job, doubling their economic crisis. And even when families do have insurance, the industry’s for-profit model means families are often faced with inexplicably high drug and test costs. Medicare for All would lower costs for families and businesses by giving the government greater negotiating power with health insurance companies and untying health insurance from employment.

I also support the Butch-Lewis Act because pensions that hardworking union members have paid into their entire careers are in grave jeopardy. Many retirees have already seen their monthly payments cut by a third or more. The Butch Lewis Act would provide a responsible solution so that the hardworking men and women who responsibly paid into their pension are not forced into poverty.

Related Reading
Win free Patch.com gear from us! Here's How
Stay up-to-date with with Patch! Sign up for Newsletters and E-Mail Alerts

Submitted Photo, Published With Permission From Randy Bryce Campaign