Contact: Lauren Hitt, 443-370-3205, lauren@randybryceforcongress.com
PA-18 results show new signs of Ryan’s vulnerability
RACINE, WI – The Randy Bryce for Congress campaign raised over $100,000 since Conor Lamb declared victory in PA-18, less than 36 hours ago. The donations came from approximately 3,000 contributors with most individuals giving $5.00.
“Working people are more energized than ever before, and Paul Ryan should be very nervous not only about losing his majority, but also losing his own seat,” said campaign Communications Director Lauren Hitt. “PA-18 was far more conservative than Ryan’s district, and, like Bryce, Lamb ran a pro-union campaign that frequently criticized Ryan’s plans to slash Social Security and Medicare. In another troubling sign for the Speaker, the Republican groups running ads in PA-18 completely abandoned messaging around the Speaker’s tax bill, which Ryan has said repeatedly will be key to Republicans’ electoral success this Fall. As it turns out, the Speaker may not be able to campaign on his own bill.”
Election experts across the country are noting Ryan’s vulnerability:
Michael Murphy, Republican Strategist on CNN: “Don Lemon So Mike, listen, you said Republicans should have been able to — I read this on air last night, elect a bag of hammers there. So I want to ask you, let’s talk about these spreads, OK? Because here is the spread, 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)
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.
