Democracy for America endorses Randy Bryce in Paul Ryan's district

Democracy for America on June 28 endorsed ironworker Randy Bryce for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District.

The endorsement is the organization’s first of a federal challenger endorsement for the 2018 general election. Bryce is running for the seat held by House Speaker Paul Ryan.

DFA has 41,971 members in Wisconsin and more than a million members nationwide.

DFA chair Jim Dean issued this statement: “Randy Bryce’s down-to-earth, people-oriented progressivism is a breath of fresh air. While Paul Ryan’s agenda is driven by the lobbyists who can afford to buy his time, Randy’s views on the issues are forged by his time working the iron. His support for single payer health care is informed by his concern for keeping his family covered. His commitment to racial and economic justice is drawn from firsthand knowledge of how they affect his neighbors and co-workers.”

“We need more people like Randy, who reflect and understand their communities, to step forward and run for office across the country. Against the right person running a progressive, issue-based grassroots campaign, no amount of lobbyist and corporate backing can save Republicans in the House from losing their jobs. Our members are excited to prove that by pouring their energy into Randy Bryce’s campaign to replace Paul Ryan.”

Bryce said he is proud to have the support "of an organization that stands for the progressive values important to so many working people across our country will help us beat Paul Ryan and carry Wisconsin forward into 2018." 

Bryce, according to a news release, is a U.S. Army veteran, cancer survivor, single father and union ironworker.

He was raised in southeastern Wisconsin and went to public schools. After graduation, he enlisted in the Army and was posted to Honduras. His father was a police officer and his mother worked in a doctor’s office. His brother is also a police officer and his sister is a public school teacher.

Bryce is president of the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce board of directors and as chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Veterans Caucus.

Democracy for America is a member-driven, people-powered progressive PAC with more than one million members nationwide committed to taking on income inequality, money in politics, and structural racism.

Since its 2004 founding, DFA members have raised and contributed more than $40 million and made more than 11.1 million volunteer calls to help successfully elect 917 progressive candidates nationwide.