Republican congressman Bryan Steil and Democratic challenger Mitchell Berman have clashed over healthcare and the cost of living in a closely watched Wisconsin race as in-person absentee voting begins ahead of the November election.
The contest for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District is one of the battlegrounds that could help determine control of the US House of Representatives. Steil, who has held the seat since 2019, faced Berman in the candidates’ only scheduled debate, hosted by WCLO radio in Janesville on Tuesday.
Wisconsin congressional race turns on healthcare
Medicaid was among the sharpest points of disagreement during the hour-long exchange. Berman, an emergency room nurse making his first run for public office, attacked the Republican-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, arguing that restrictions and reductions to the programme risked damaging access to care.
“This is going to affect us all across the board, this is going to lead to worse patient outcomes, this is going to lead to people losing their lives,” Berman said.
He called for Medicaid to be fully funded, for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to be restored and for a government insurance option to be introduced to help reduce costs.
Steil rejected the criticism, saying Medicaid funding for Wisconsin had increased by $1 billion year on year. He accused his opponent of trying to frighten voters over the impact of the legislation.
“My opponent knows that Medicaid funding for the state of Wisconsin increased by $1 billion year over year,” Steil said. “He wants to fear monger and scare people listening.”
Berman responded that the increase would not make up for projected losses in coverage and services, comparing it to “putting a Band-Aid on a bullet hole”. Steil repeatedly returned to the point that the state’s funding had risen.
The candidates also argued over immigration, elections, Social Security and household finances, offering sharply different accounts of how to tackle rising living costs.
The district covers Racine and Kenosha counties, parts of Rock County and part of Milwaukee County. Republicans have held it since 1995, including former House Speaker Paul Ryan before Steil succeeded him.
However, changes to the congressional map have made the seat more competitive for Democrats. The Cook Political Report and the University of Virginia’s Crystal Ball have both shifted their assessments from likely Republican to leaning Republican, placing greater attention on the race.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added the district to its “red to blue” programme in September, directing additional resources towards Berman’s challenge. Steil is seeking a fifth term and has won each of his previous races by at least nine percentage points.
Wisconsin’s in-person absentee voting period began on October 20 and can run until November 1, although hours vary between municipalities. The general election will be held on November 3.
