RACINE, Wis. (AP) — Mitchell Berman knows voters are angry.
asserted
voters → know → ?
It’s the Democrat’s best hope of defeating Rep. Bryan Steil in a Wisconsin district that Republicans have held for more than 30 years.
asserted
Republicans → ’ → years
“I know what it’s like to struggle,” Berman, a nurse and first-time candidate, told The Associated Press.
asserted
Berman → know → Press
“Folks are really looking for someone that they can turn to and say, ‘That guy’s walked a mile in my shoes.’
asserted
guy → look → shoes
Democrats see his race as one that could break their way if the blue wave they’re working toward turns into a tsunami.
uncertain
they → see → tsunami
And while there are signs that Republicans may be getting nervous, officials from both parties said it will be difficult for the newcomer to upset the better-known incumbent.
uncertain
newcomer → be → incumbent
Berman, like other Democratic challengers across the country, is trying to capitalize on President Donald Trump’s sagging approval rating fueled by anger over the economy, increases in healthcare costs and high gas prices caused by the war in Iran.
asserted
Berman → try → Iran
“Everybody’s ready for a change,” said John Pintar, a 68-year-old retired heavy-machine operator from Caledonia who went to a Racine coffee shop to hear Berman make his pitch last week.
asserted
Berman → ’ → pitch
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced in September that it was adding Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District to its “red to blue” program that targets Republican incumbents viewed as vulnerable.
asserted
that → announce → incumbents
The designation frees up resources and fundraising for Berman in a boost to his underdog chances.
asserted
designation → free → chances
Steil, who worked as an attorney for a plastics manufacturer before being elected to Congress, downplayed being targeted as he seeks a fifth term.
“We’ve shown time and again our ability to go out, get out above the noise, speak directly to voters,” he told the AP.
asserted
he → work → AP
No Going Back PAC, a Trump-aligned group, has spent about $90,000 on mailings in Steil’s district.
asserted
PAC → align → district
Nationwide, No Going Back PAC and another Trump-aligned group, Safety and Affordability PAC, have spent more than $84 million on advertising in House races since Sept. 1, according to an AP analysis of data from AdImpact, which tracks media spending and ad buys.
uncertain
which → align → spending
A third group, MAGA Inc., did not spend on House races.
asserted
group → spend → races
The vast majority of the groups’ ad spending, 96%, has been in House districts Trump carried in 2024, which the AP determined by using precinct-level results to map to the new district boundaries some states have adopted.
asserted
states → carry → boundaries
Only $3.5 million was spent on districts won by Democrat Kamala Harris.
asserted
million → spend → Harris
The cash flow shows how Republicans have been on defense this year, but the party’s deep pockets could help insulate its members.
uncertain
pockets → show → members
Steil and groups supporting him have outspent Berman and his backers by a 2-1 ratio, according to AdImpact data.
uncertain
Steil → support → data
He had $6.3 million cash on hand entering August, compared with just under $152,000 for Berman, based on federal filings.
asserted
He → have → filings
Peter Barca was the last Democrat to hold the seat, from 1993 to 1995, and he lost a comeback attempt against Steil in 2024.
asserted
he → hold → 2024
He said Berman may still succeed despite being outspent.
uncertain
Berman → say → ?
“When the wave’s big enough, that will save you,” Barca said.
asserted
Barca → ’ → you
Wisconsin district once served by Paul Ryan has deep manufacturing ties
asserted
district → serve → ties
Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District borders Illinois to the south and Lake Michigan to the east.
asserted
District → border → east
It includes the cities of Kenosha, Janesville and Racine, where Berman was greeting voters at a downtown coffee shop this week.
asserted
Berman → include → shop
The district grew more competitive under new congressional maps enacted in 2022, but it still leans Republican.
asserted
it → grow → 2022
Former House Speaker Paul Ryan held the seat for 20 years before Steil, his former aide, replaced him in 2019.
asserted
Steil → hold → 2019
The area suffered thousands of manufacturing job losses as the automobile industry collapsed and jobs were sent overseas.
asserted
jobs → suffer → losses
The General Motors plant in Janesville, which had operated for 90 years and employed 7,000 people at its height, shut down in early 2009.
asserted
which → operate → 2009
Other manufacturers in the area, including a vehicle assembly plant in Kenosha, also shuttered around the same time.
asserted
manufacturers → include → time
Berman has gone after Steil for supporting Trump’s tariffs, saying despite the president’s claims that they will bring U.S. factories “roaring back,” voters in southeast Wisconsin have yet to see any evidence of it.
uncertain
voters → go → it
Steil said he’s heard frustration from voters.
asserted
he → say → voters
“We need to continue our work to make life more affordable,” Steil said, citing his votes in support of eliminating taxes on tips and overtime and other tax reforms.
asserted
Steil → need → tips
“There’s also more work to be done,” Steil said.
asserted
Steil → ’ → ?
Democrat tapping into voter anger and working-class background
Berman, 40, leans into his working-class background when talking to voters.
asserted
Berman → tap → voters
He describes how he grew up in rural Wisconsin, attended public schools and was the first in his family to graduate from college.
asserted
he → describe → college
He talks about holding his first union job and how cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs affecting the VA hospital where he worked as a nurse motivated him to run for Congress.
asserted
he → talk → Congress
“We’re up against folks, like my opponent, who are too far removed from what you and I are up against every day,” Berman said to a cheering room of supporters at a coffee house this week.
asserted
Berman → ’re → house
In his first television ad released earlier this month, Berman is shown fishing with a holstered gun as he highlights his working-class roots and dings Steil for getting “millions from special interests.”
asserted
he → release → interests
“I’m not looking to get rich,” Berman says.
asserted
Berman → look → ?
…and 9 more, not listed.
The Aporia
