Paul Ryan Opponent Randy Bryce Invited To State Of The Union

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wisconsin First District Congressman and House Speaker Paul Ryan will be seated behind President Donald Trump during Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Randy Bryce, who is Paul Ryan's democratic challenger this November, will also be there to "look the speaker in the eye."

Bryce will be in attendance in the gallery Tuesday night as congressman Mark Pocan's (D-WI) guest. "It's important to be there in person to hold Speaker Ryan accountable since he won't hold a public town hall in the District," Bryce said in a prepared statement.

The following is an ad published by the Bryce campaign:

According to a Vox article published today, Pocan’s invitation has already drawn ire from local Republicans. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) said the “spectacle” is “disrespectful and out of bounds.”

Bryce, an army veteran, has the self-appointed nickname “the Iron Stache,” for his career as a union ironworker. He's taking Ryan to task for some of his policy positions, including tax reform and immigration.

"He told us his tax reform bill was for the middle class, and then we find out he got a $500,000 campaign contribution from the Kochs just days after the bill passed. He publicly promised a DREAMer and her daughter that they didn't have to fear deportation, but then he sided with extremists in his party and refused to commit to a vote on DACA during the budget negotiations," Bryce said in a prepared statement.

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