Democrat Mitchell Berman Defeats US Rep. Bryan Steil, Flips Wisconsin House Seat

Democrat Mitchell Berman, left, addresses supporters after defeating Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil in the 1st Congressional District on Nov. 3, 2026. Evan Casey/WPR

Democrat Mitchell Berman has defeated incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil to win Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District.

Berman, an emergency room nurse who lives in Racine County, will be the first Democrat to represent the seat in more than 30 years. Steil conceded at around 11:30 p.m. The Associated Press called the race at 11:48 p.m.

All results are unofficial until they’re certified in coming weeks.

Dozens of Berman supporters at Uncle Hunk’s Junk building in Elkhorn gathered to cheer on their candidate at Tuesday’s watch party. They got louder and louder as the election results displayed on a TV showed Berman leading as the night went on.

During a short victory speech at around 11:10 p.m., Berman thanked the voters of the district.

“If you had told me even just a few years ago that I’d be your next congressman, I would have never believed you,” Berman said. “Trust me, this wasn’t on my bingo card. But tonight proves that when working people come together, we can make a real difference.”

He also thanked Steil “for his years of service to this district.”

“And though we may disagree on policies, I just want to say that I am happy to be where I am today,” Berman said.

Berman said he would work to “fix” the healthcare system, lower costs and “fight the corruption in Washington (D.C.).”

“I am going to represent everyone in this district,” Berman told reporters after his speech. “We travel to every corner of the district talking to folks, and even those who didn’t vote for me, I want them to know that my door is going to be open, and I’m excited to listen from them.”

Steil, to his supporters gathered at his election night event in Sturtevant, said it was a “difficult night.”

“We gave it our all, but we came up short,” Steil said.

“For the last eight years, it’s been my absolute honor to be your voice in Congress,” Steil said. “I’m proud of what we accomplished during those eight years. I think we made a lot of progress for this state and for this country.”

Steil had held the seat since getting elected in 2018, easily winning recent elections to represent the district. But some political analysts said this year’s race would be closer than in years past.

In the last round of redistricting, the district added some new Democratic areas around Beloit and Janesville, while losing a portion of Waukesha County, which typically votes Republican. That provided an opening for Democrats, and the circumstances of the 2026 election helped them take advantage of it.

Like other races around the country, Steil’s seat got caught up in a blue wave, fueled by voter dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and the high cost of living. Donations flowed to Berman’s campaign, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee selected the district as part of its “Red to Blue” program in an effort to boost Berman’s chances.

Berman will now hold a district that was held for 20 years by former Republican U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan. It stretches along the southeastern corner of the state, and includes Kenosha and Racine counties, the majority of Walworth County and parts of Rock and Milwaukee counties.

Republican Bryan Steil concedes to Democrat Mitchell Berman in the race to represent Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District on Nov. 3, 2026. His wife stands next to him during the speech. Elissa Eaton/WPR

In a prior interview with WPR, Berman had said key issues for him were the cost of living, ensuring people have access to affordable healthcare and addressing “corruption” in Washington D.C. If elected, he said he would work to reverse Trump administration policies.

Steil, 45, is an attorney who spent around a decade working in the manufacturing industry before he ran for office. The Janesville native and former Ryan staffer said he worked for Regal Rexnord Corporation, formerly Regal Beloit Corporation.

During the only debate for the seat, both Berman and Steil agreed that the cost of living was a top issue. But they differed on how they would address it. Berman said he’d work to repeal Trump administration tariffs, while Steil said he’d work to deliver tax relief for residents.

Democrat Mitchell Berman defeats US Rep. Bryan Steil to flip Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.