Democrat Union Ironworker Randy Bryce BERNIE CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER To Run Against (R) Speaker Paul Ryan

Democrat Union Ironworker Randy Bryce BERNIE CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER To Run Against (R) Speaker Paul Ryan

An ironworker and local activist formally announced he will seek House Speaker Paul Ryan’s seat next year.

After hinting at it in recent weeks, Randy Bryce announced his candidacy Monday in a video and accompanying fundraising email. Noting his and his parents’ battles against illness, Bryce emphasized health care issues and Ryan-led efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

“I’m about building things, and he’s about taking things away from people,” Bryce, 52, said in an interview.

A U.S. Army veteran, Bryce is an ironworker with Iron Workers Local 8 who has been active in liberal politics in the Racine area. He ran for state Assembly in 2012 and state Senate in 2014. “The voters of Wisconsin have already rejected Randy Bryce multiple times,” the Republican Party of Wisconsin said in a statement Monday. “Instead of fighting for hard-working Wisconsin families, Randy Bryce will say and do anything to get to Washington and defend his liberal special interest friends.” Bryce joins David Yankovich, who recently moved from Ohio to Kenosha, as Democrats seek the U.S. House seat that Ryan has held since 1999. Paul Nehlen, a Delavan resident who challenged Ryan in the Republican primary last year, has said he also will run again. A primary would be held in August 2018, followed by the November general election. Bryce and others expect the race to draw national attention — and money — due to Ryan’s role as speaker. Bryce said he has traveled to other states and Washington, D.C., to advocate on issues, but he was also quick to note he’s a lifelong southeastern Wisconsin resident.A former campaign surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is preparing to mount a bid to challenge House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) for his southeast Wisconsin House seat, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. A former campaign surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is preparing to mount a bid to challenge House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) for his southeast Wisconsin House seat, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

"They’re handcuffed together,” Bryce told The Wall Street Journal. "People are having buyer’s remorse and they’re seeing what’s going on. Trump made a lot of promises that I can see why working people would support, but now they’re waking up."

For a Democrat to oust Ryan would certainly be a challenging task, however.

The Wisconsin Republican has only once received less than 60 percent of the vote in his district, and his post as the third-highest-ranking Republican in the country is attractive to constituents.

Trump also won Ryan's district handily in 2016, taking it by 10 percentage points over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Ryan is sure to have a ton of money at his disposal, and while Democrats have raised dollars and been competitive in two special election contests this year in districts won by Trump, they have yet to get a victory. Their next chance will be on June 20 in Georgia, where Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price's district is in play. According to the Wall Street Journal, Bryce has recruited the help of Bill Hyers, who managed successful campaigns for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D).

A survey conducted last month by the Democratic polling firm Public Policy Polling found that only 46 percent of voters in Ryan's district say they would cast their ballot to reelect Ryan.

In his first four months in office, Trump's job approval ratings have consistently hovered between 35 and 45 percent, and the president has suffered a continuous onslaught of controversies, particularly surrounding federal investigations into possible collusion between his campaign and Russia.

Ryan has firmly aligned himself with Trump's agenda and helped the president win a victory in the House on legislation repealing and replacing ObamaCare.

--

Connect With The Host!

- BECOME A MEMBER:

- LIKE MY NEW FACEBOOK PAGE

- CHECK OUT MY ARTICLES:

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PROGRESSIVE VOICE

- FOLLOW THE PROGRESSIVE VOICE ON TWITTER:

- GO TO THE NEW WEBSITE FOR ALL ACCESS