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Democrats running for the 1st District seat currently held by Republican Congressman Bryan Steil include Miguel Aranda, Travis Beckius, Mitchell Berman, Randy Bryce, Lorenzo Santos, and Gage Stills. Steil and Republican Connor Walleck are also running.

Participating Sunday were Bryce, Aranda, and Santos.

Bryce, a longtime union ironworker and Army veteran, described his background and political experience, noting his work with veterans and organized labor and his role as a national surrogate for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Aranda, a University of Wisconsin–Whitewater employee and vice president of the Whitewater Unified School District board, highlighted his upbringing in a working-class, mixed-status family and his focus on opportunity, education and affordability.

Santos, an emergency manager and Navy reservist who has lived across the country, said Wisconsin is where he “was able to set up roots� and outlined a platform centered on affordability, health care and preserving democracy.

U.S. military authority

The first round of questions focused on U.S. military action and congressional authority following recent strikes in Iran.

“I wake up on Saturday, it’s snowing and we’re in the middle of the war,� Bryce said. “I belong to Veterans for Peace…totally opposed to attacking this other country without going through any vote before Congress.�

Aranda called congressional authorization essential, saying, “this president not listening to the rules of Congress, not…following beyond the norms…as a congressman, the first thing we got to do is impeach for sure.�

Santos said the strikes reflected a broader erosion of accountability.

“Iran should not have been attacked without the express permission of Congress,� he said. “We have to make sure that we are holding this president accountable.�

Education, affordability and health care

Student debt and college affordability were another focus of Sunday’s forum. Each candidate said the current administration is making it harder for students to succeed.

Bryce advocated for tuition-free public college and loan forgiveness.

“Once you have that to pay off, you get a job and you don’t want to…quit, because you need to keep up your payments,� he said.

Santos, who said he is still paying graduate school loans, said current policy traps young people.

“If we don’t invest in our students, how can they invest in their futures?� he said.

Aranda emphasized Pell Grants, FAFSA access and public education investment, noting, “people feel that the American Dream is disappearing.�

On health care, candidates supported expanded access, with Bryce and Santos backing Medicare for all.

Civil rights, ICE and public safety

Civil rights questions addressed LGBTQ+ protections and immigration enforcement.

Aranda discussed DEI restrictions and advocacy work, saying, “We have had to review a lot of our texts…what we can and cannot say so people can maintain their jobs.�

Bryce and Santos both called for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“What country…has a secret police force?� Bryce said. “That’s not what belongs here.�

Santos agreed, saying, “ICE needs to be abolished. Absolutely.�

On gun policy, all three candidates supported universal background checks, safe storage and red flag laws.

Santos said, “one of the biggest reasons that we have so much gun violence is because there’s increased access to these guns.�

Other questions addressed artificial intelligence and climate policy.

Bryce cautioned against unchecked AI use, saying it “belongs in an authoritarian regime, not one that the United States has.�

Santos and Aranda stressed ethical oversight and workforce impacts, while all three candidates voiced support for stronger environmental regulation and climate action.

Voting rights and youth participation

The forum concluded with questions about democracy and youth engagement.

“How can we increase voter engagement and civic engagement within our classrooms?� Aranda said.

Bryce said voting access is increasingly under threat from initiatives like the SAVE Act.

“It’s designed to scare people away from voting,� Bryce said. “Those are the people that we need to vote.�

Santos said listening to young voters is essential.

“If you want them to come out, you need to listen to them and not take their vote for granted,� Santos said.

Congressional oversight and presidential power

In the final round of questions, candidates discussed Congress’s role in checking executive power.

“We need a Congress that’s going to show up for work and do their job,� Bryce said.

Santos supported term limits and stronger constituent engagement.

“At least listen to your constituency,� he said.

Aranda warned against executive overreach.

“Some of that authority has to come back to Congress,� Aranda said.