OAK CREEK, Wis. — As voters in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District heads to the polls, they face a choice between Republican incumbent Bryan Steil and Democratic challenger Peter Barca.
The district includes Janesville, Kenosha and Racine.
In a district that has been a Republican stronghold for three decades, both candidates are vying for the support of middle-class voters. Newly redrawn district lines could reshape the race’s dynamics.
Steil, who served in Congress since 2019, has made border security a central pillar of his campaign. He said he sees a direct link between immigration and local issues like crime and drugs.
“When we think about things like border security, Peter Barca voted to allow sanctuary cities to exist in the state of Wisconsin,” said Steil. “That is an incredibly dangerous policy and shows alignment with the far extreme left as it relates to border security. I am standing with the men and women of law enforcement, making sure that we not only secure the border, but keep our communities safe.”
Democrat Barca has represented the region in both the state legislature and in Congress.
Barca said the stakes are different in this election. He has made abortion a key issue in his campaign.
“My opponent is an extremist on this issue,” said Barca. “He’s one of the few Republicans to write an amicus brief to end Roe v. Wade in America — a right that women had for roughly a half century. I want to restore Roe. I thought that was a good balance, looking at each trimester and making a decision, but he even voted against birth control, which I find absolutely unbelievable.”
While both candidates have vastly different views on national issues, they said they’re keenly aware of the concerns families face in the district.
Both are quick to acknowledge that inflation and rising costs are important issues voters face.
“What I am hearing time and again is the need to bring down costs, especially after the inflation brought onto us by the Biden-Harris administration,” said Steil.
“That would be my focus, to help the middle class,” said Barca. “Help young families. It costs more now to put your infant in child care than it does your teenager in school, so they need help with child care credits.”
Barca said, if elected, he will expand social security for senior citizens and provide tax relief to working families.
Steil said he plans to address border security, immigration and lowering inflation for working-class families if re-elected.
Both candidates also pointed to the growing fentanyl crisis as an urgent issue. They said they want to find common ground between the parties.
“I’ve always worked across the aisle to get things done,” said Barca. “And that’s in contrast to the do-nothing, dysfunctional Congress that we have right now. It can hardly keep a speaker in the chair. It’s just an embarrassment to this country. There are so many issues.”
“President Biden thanked me by name for my bipartisan work to get legislation across the line and signed into law,” said Steil. “I have a track record of working across the aisle and a track record of success and I look forward to being able to have an opportunity to do that for another four years.”