“Veteran, cancer survivor and ironworker Randy Bryce has the grit, determination and passion to finally give his community the representation it deserves,” said DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján. “From serving our country in the Army to fighting for Wisconsin working families, Randy has never been afraid to take on the tough fights, and it’s that attitude that has propelled his campaign. These results add to Randy’s impressive momentum and put him in strong position to win in November.”
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To: Interested Parties
From: Evan Lukaske, DCCC regional press secretary
Date: August 14, 2018
Re: The Case Against Bryan Steil
The primary results in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District put Democrats in a strong position to flip this Wisconsin seat. The general election pits veteran and union ironworker Randy Bryce against outsourcer and corporate attorney Bryan Steil. A longtime advocate for Wisconsin’s working families and unions, Bryce contrasts sharply with Steil, who in addition to supporting a Republican agenda that puts a target on the backs of working people, is a corporate attorney whose company touts outsourcing Wisconsin jobs and closing Wisconsin facilities.
Campaign fundamentals are on Bryce’s side. Polling showed Bryce closing in on Speaker Paul Ryan prior to his retirement, and Bryce is a prodigious fundraiser, raising nearly $6.3 million since launching his campaign.
With Bryce’s unique candidacy and fundraising abilities, unprecedented grassroots energy, and the stark contrast between an ironworker and outsourcing corporate attorney, Democrats are well positioned to win this seat this fall.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“Nonpartisan election handicappers think Ryan’s absence gives Democrats a better chance in the district in November. Sabato’s Crystal Ball moved its race rating from ‘likely’ Republican to ‘toss-up’ on Wednesday. Meanwhile, before Ryan’s office confirmed his decision, the Cook Political Report said a retirement would change its rating of the race from ‘solid’ Republican to ‘lean’ Republican.” [CNBC, 4/11/18]
“But the open seat now gives Bryce, whose roughly $5 million raised paled compared to Ryan’s more than $11 million, a sudden fundraising advantage in what was previously a Democratic-leaning district in the heart of white, working-class America.” [Associated Press, 4/11/18]
HEADLINE: Steil Needs To Step Up And Offer Specifics. “Perusing his Twitter feed reveals something about Steil’s diet but little about his positions on important issues—from trade policy to health care to national defense. Beyond Twitter, his public pronouncements haven’t been particularly informative, either […]” [Janesville Gazette, Editorial, 6/23/18]
“All I’m saying is that I’ve never seen Paul Ryan and his chosen successor—Bryan Steil—in the same room together. They both want to cut Social Security and Medicare. They both want to attack working people to give more money to millionaires. They represent the same failed agenda” [Twitter, Randy Bryce (@Ironstache), 4/24/18]
BRYAN STEIL: OUTSOURCING CORPORATE ATTORNEY
Outsourcer
On the campaign trail, Steil has promoted his work as an attorney at Regal Beloit Corporation, saying he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions. Unfortunately, for Wisconsin workers, many of Regal Beloit’s “acquisitions” were for overseas facilities that accelerated the outsourcing of Wisconsin jobs and closed facilities in Wisconsin and other Midwestern states.
On an earnings call with shareholders in 2016, Regal Beloit COO Jon Schlemmer discussed the benefits of outsourcing when addressing the closure of a Wisconsin foundry, saying, “The first is the closure of our foundry in Wausau, Wisconsin. We already outsource the majority of our castings, and this will get us out of foundry operations, which is non-core to our long term manufacturing strategy.” Schlemmer went on to tout Regal Beloit’s plan to move a portion of their motor assembly and parts production to facilities in Mexico.[1]
The Department of Labor gave Regal Beloit’s outsourcing a less favorable review. From 2009 to 2017, the Department of Labor issued multiple decisions finding that the corporation’s activities had led to outsourcing of large numbers of American jobs to places like Mexico.
Tax Scam Supporter
Steil supports the Republican Tax Scam, a massive giveaway to big corporations and the very rich. Notably, given Steil’s career, the Tax Scam incentivizes outsourcing. Since the Tax Scam’s debut and subsequent passage, it remains a deeply unpopular piece of legislation. Poll after poll has consistently shown the tax plan underwater with voters.
On the trail, Steil will have to explain to voters why 83% of the tax cuts go to the wealthiest one percent, why big corporations deserve larger tax cuts than middle-class families, why companies like Harley-Davidson and Kimberly-Clark are laying off workers after announcing nearly $700 billion in stock buybacks, and why he voted to blow a $1.9 trillion hole in the deficit.
His mentor, Speaker Ryan, may be retiring, but not before making a clear, problematic declaration that Steil will have to address: Republicans intend to use the deficit hole they created to slash Medicare and Social Security.
A Rubber Stamp for Health Care Repeal
A supporter of ACA repeal efforts, Steil owns Republicans’ failed health care agenda, like the failed repeal effort which would have gutted pre-existing condition protections, imposed an age tax, increased deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, and done nothing to lower the price of prescription drugs. Had the bill passed, nearly 49,000 constituents in WI-01 would have lost their health care coverage.
Even though their bill ultimately failed in the Senate, Republicans did succeed in causing massive spikes in Wisconsin health care premiums. Due to Republican efforts to sabotage health care markets, Wisconsin hiked premium rates an average of 36% for 2018.
Unfortunately, the damage is just getting started. One recent report estimated that a family of four in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District will pay nearly $4,300 more in premiums due to Republican sabotage of the health insurance market.
THE PATH TO VICTORY
Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District lies on Illinois’ northern border, stretching from Janesville in the West to Racine and Kenosha in the East. It is the most suburban Congressional district in Wisconsin, and is more affluent than the state average.
Democrats have performed well here. President Obama won the district in 2008, and nearly won it in 2012, even with Speaker Ryan as the vice presidential nominee. And in 2012, Senator Tammy Baldwin earned 48% of the vote.
Randy Bryce is well positioned to flip this seat. Bryce’s veteran background cuts across party lines and his ironworker resume resonates deeply with this district’s working class mentality and contrasts sharply with Steil’s career working for outsourcers. Bryce is a fundraising powerhouse who has more than $1.7 million cash on hand.
Notably, Bryce was polling well before Speaker Ryan announced his retirement. An August 2017 campaign poll showed Bryce trailing by nine points, while a December 2017 campaign poll showed the gap had closed to six. Given Ryan’s fundraising prowess, name recognition, personal popularity, and job approval, his exit from the race will have only improved Bryce’s chances to flip this seat.
Recent special elections have demonstrated tremendous Democratic energy. In 2018, Democrats have won two state Senate special elections in deep red districts, and Rebecca Dallet became the first Democrat to win an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme court in twenty-three years.
[1] Regal Beloit Earnings Call, Transcript via Fair Disclosure Wire, 2/9/16