Mitchell Berman

Mitchell Berman is a Veterans Affairs emergency room nurse and first-time candidate who won the August 11 Democratic primary to challenge four-term Republican Rep. Bryan Steil. Cook Political Report rates the race Lean Republican, and Democratic-aligned polls show it within about a point.

On the ballot against Bryan Steil (R)

Why it matters: Republicans have held this southeastern Wisconsin seat for about 30 years, and Democrats see Trump's unpopularity as a chance to flip it, though a Republican strategist called their targeting of it potentially an overreaction.

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The race at a glance

Race ratingLean RCook Political Report, Oct 27 source

Latest poll Berman 48% 47% Steil 5% undecided or other Impact Research for House Majority PAC (Democratic-aligned), reported Oct 3, 2026. source

In Mitchell's own words

I'm the true definition of a working-class candidate.

Mitchell Berman, Berman describing his background, Wisconsin Watch profile of the race, Oct 19 source

People want to know that the person representing them understands what they're dealing with

Mitchell Berman, Berman at a late-September town hall at Greendale Community Church, reported by WPR, Sep 30 source

Where Mitchell stands

Health care: Berman wants to lower health care costs, restore ACA subsidies and reverse Medicaid cuts. source
Affordability and wages: He says he will work to lower costs for working families, and he supports raising the minimum wage. source
Federal programs and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: He criticizes Steil's vote for the law and says he wants to safeguard programs that feed Wisconsin kids. source
Corruption and corporate money: He says he wants to end corruption in Washington and stop giveaways to corporations and billionaires. source

The record

Emergency room nurse with more than 20 years in health care, including over a decade as a registered nurse at the VA, and still works ER shifts while campaigning
Raised in a small rural Wisconsin town and was the first in his family to finish college; he lives in southeast Wisconsin and is a Teamsters Local 344 member
Has never held public office; the DCCC added him to its Red to Blue program in September 2026

ConfidentialThe GOP File

The file on Bryan Steil

Steil has represented the district since winning in 2018, chairs the House Administration Committee, and beat Democrat Peter Barca by about 10 points in 2024. source
Steil backed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he says reduced taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security; Berman and other Democrats say it cut Medicaid and food assistance. source
His Stop Insider Trading Act passed the House in July 2026 after being amended to require photo ID to vote, and it awaits Senate action. source

Endorsed by

Sen. Tammy Baldwin Rep. Gwen Moore Rep. Mark Pocan United Auto Workers SEIU Wisconsin

In the files

Then vs. Now

Steil touts a $1 billion Medicaid boost; the 2025 law he backed cuts it starting in 2028

Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., is answering Medicaid attack ads by pointing to $1 billion in new money for Wisconsin. A fact-check found the money is real. Hospitals pay the state's share, and the federal law Steil voted for starts cutting those payments on Jan. 1, 2028.

Oct 24, 7:12 PM ET

Profile sources: 1, 2, 3

Race data checked Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Quotes on this page were matched word for word against their sources.