Democrats Running For Ryan Seat Attempt To Show Differences In First Debate

The two Democrats competing to replace retiring Republican U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District had their first debate Sunday night in Lake Geneva. Cathy Myers and Randy Bryce agreed on most issues, but also sought to draw contrasts with each other.

On the subject of immigration, Myers, a teacher and school board member in Janesville, said she’d like to see the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or ICE, be moved from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to the Justice Department and have more oversight. She questioned Bryce’s promise to abolish ICE.

“Because a while ago, you supported the idea of local law enforcement being used to do the job of ICE, ” Myers told Bryce, an iron worker from Racine County.

“I had a made a statement a while ago that I feel local law enforcement should be given all the tools they need. My father’s a retired cop. Not to do extra work, ” he said.

Bryce says a Wisconsin immigrants rights group, Voces de la Frontera, is backing him in the Aug. 14 primary.

Myers and Bryce were in the process of agreeing that taxpayer support for the Foxconn project in Racine County is a bad idea when Myers brought up the Milwaukee Bucks arena, which is partly publicly funded.

“I’d also note my primary opponent supported the Bucks stadium in Milwaukee and that was another $200 million investment that the taxpayers are saddled with,” Myers said.

Bryce said he supported the deal because the Bucks promise to pay arena workers a living wage.

“Everyone’s going to be making $15 an hour, so if you’re going to be a responsible employer and pay your workers a livable wage, I’m going to be on board with that project,” Bryce told the audience.

In November, the Democrats nominee will face one of several Republicans running in the 1st District.