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Milwaukee Alderman Peter Burgelis Enters Democratic Primary to Challenge Rep. Bryan Steil in Wisconsin’s 1st District

The redrawn seat is now a national Democratic target, raising the stakes for a well-funded incumbent.

Overview

  • Burgelis, a Milwaukee Common Council member, announced his Democratic campaign Sunday on WISN’s UpFront to run in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District.
  • He lives about a mile outside the district, which the Wisconsin GOP used to question whether he would prioritize 1st District constituents.
  • Rep. Bryan Steil holds a sizable cash edge with roughly $5.5 million reported for the first quarter, while Burgelis said his fundraising commitments are ongoing and disclosures are due in the coming months.
  • Burgelis is centering his bid on lowering household costs and restoring accountability in Washington, and he enters a crowded primary without a clear frontrunner.
  • After 2022 map changes added Democratic-leaning areas such as Janesville, Beloit, Racine, and Kenosha, the DCCC put WI‑01 on its 2026 flip list, with the primary on Aug. 1 and the general election on Nov. 3.