Contact: Lauren Hitt, 443-370-3205, lauren@randybryceforcongress.com
RACINE, WI – CNN formally changed their assessment of Speaker Ryan’s vulnerability this morning, saying his District is no longer a “Safe Republican” seat. In altering their rating, CNN’s experts attributed the decision to the strength of Randy Bryce’s campaign, describing Bryce as a “small-dollar fundraising star” and noting that “southeastern Wisconsin is actually friendlier territory to Democrats than southwestern Pennsylvania was.” Read more HERE.
CNN joins experts across the country in noting Ryan’s vulnerability:
Michael Murphy, Republican Strategist: “Don Lemon: Pennsylvania’s 18th district is a — is listed on R plus 11, right? According to the Cook political report partisan voter index. Meaning that Republicans had an 11 point advantage there, over Democrats. Devin Nunes and Cathy McMorris Rodgers are listed as R plus eight. Paul Ryan and Lee Zeldin are only R plus fives. Are these guys safe? Murphy: Well, no, like many Republicans in swing seats, they’re in a real tough environment. I mean, let’s look at this Pennsylvania 18 thing and step back. We couldn’t carry a Pittsburgh district that Romney won by 17 and Trump by 20, a week after we passed steel tariffs for Pittsburgh. And yet still our guy lost.” (3/14/2018)
University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato: “[Sabato’s] other notable decision was to move House Speaker Paul Ryan’s seat from “Safe Republican” to “Likely Republican” based on the fact that Ryan may not run for reelection and that, based on past election results, the district ‘is actually competitive.'” (3/18/2018)
Washington Post: “Meanwhile, Ryan’s concerns may go beyond messaging. Lamb is ahead in a district that voted for President Trump in 2016 by 20 points and is rated as leaning Republican by 11 points by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Ryan’s own district, Wisconsin’s 1st, voted for Trump by only 10 points and has a five-point GOP lean, according to Cook.” (3/15/2018)
About Randy Bryce
Randy Bryce is a U.S. Army veteran, cancer survivor, and union ironworker. He was raised in southeastern Wisconsin, and went to public schools. Randy’s father was a police officer, and his mother worked in a doctor’s office. After graduation, Randy enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was posted to Honduras, where he earned the Army Achievement Medal. After returning stateside, Randy was diagnosed with cancer, which he survived, but only after struggling through the bankruptcy that came with the medical bills. Once in remission, Randy found his way to an apprenticeship as an iron worker, a trade he’s now been practicing and fighting to protect from anti-labor laws for nearly 20 years. Randy currently resides in Caledonia, WI with his son, Ben, who attends public schools like his dad. Randy joined the race for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District in Summer 2017.
