Mitchell
Berman
Democratic ER nurse and first-time candidate challenging Republican incumbent Bryan Steil in Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District
- sources
- 20
- positions
- 9
- endorsements
- 18
Background
Mitchell Berman is the 2026 Democratic nominee for U.S. House in Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District, challenging Republican incumbent Bryan Steil. He resides in Raymond, Wisconsin, and was raised in what the campaign describes as a "one-stoplight town in rural Wisconsin." [2, 7, 10]
Berman works as a board-certified emergency-room nurse; a July 2026 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report identified his employer as Ascension Hospital in Franklin, Wisconsin. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marian University, where he was the first in his family to graduate from college and worked three jobs to fund his degree. [2, 12]
The campaign says Berman has more than 23 years of healthcare experience and spent over a decade serving veterans, active-duty service members, and their families at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He also held an early union job with Teamsters Local 344 while in college. 2
Berman won the Democratic primary on August 11, 2026, and was subsequently added to the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's "Red to Blue" program. He has no prior elected office on record. [13, 14]
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 1, Wisconsin
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Emergency-room nurse (Ascension Hospital, Franklin, Wisconsin); Democratic nominee for U.S. House, Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District
- Website
- bermanforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 11newsBerman campaigns in Beloit as November election approaches
Berman was reported hitting the campaign trail in Beloit, Wisconsin, as part of his ongoing efforts to unseat incumbent Bryan Steil ahead of the November 3 general election.
Berman hits campaign trail in U.S. House race · Oct 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 6newsCook Political Report shifts WI-01 rating from 'Likely Republican' to 'Lean Republican'
The Wisconsin Bankers Association's October 7 race overview reported that Cook Political Report had moved WI-01 to 'Lean Republican,' though Steil was still considered the favorite.
The Road to November 3rd With WBA: Congressional ... · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1newsDCCC airs first TV ad in WI-01 featuring Berman's pledge to ban congressional stock trading
The DCCC released its first TV ad in WI-01, airing in Milwaukee and Madison markets. In the ad, Berman said he does not own stocks, does not take corporate PAC money, and pledges to ban members of Congress from trading stocks.
DCCC Releases First TV Ad in WI-01: “Bucks” · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29pollDCCC releases internal poll showing WI-01 is a tied race
The DCCC publicly released its internal polling memo showing Berman and Steil deadlocked at 48% each, drawing national attention to the race.
DCCC Polling Memo: WI-01 is a Tied Race · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29newsNational media reports Democrats eyeing Steil's seat as 2026 map expands
Multiple outlets including PBS Wisconsin and AP reported that national Democrats were targeting the WI-01 seat held by Steil, citing the competitive polling and Berman's DCCC backing.
Democrats eye Republican incumbent Steil in Wisconsin's 1st as ... · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 28pollSecond Impact Research poll shows Berman leading Steil 48%–47%
A poll of 500 likely voters conducted September 28–October 1 showed Berman at 48% and Steil at 47%, per a poll tracker citing Impact Research data.
WI-01: Steil 69 in 100 — Call the Map · Sep 21, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 21pollDCCC poll conducted showing Berman and Steil tied at 48% each in WI-01
A DCCC-commissioned poll of 495 likely voters, conducted September 21–23, showed Berman and Steil tied at 48% each with 5% undecided and a ±4.4 point margin of error.
DCCC Polling Memo: WI-01 is a Tied Race · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 18newsBerman highlights Medicaid's role in his family's life while criticizing Steil's healthcare vote
In an interview reported by ABC News, Berman said 'Medicaid afforded my mom an additional eight years of life,' criticizing Steil's vote for the Republican-backed healthcare bill.
Democratic doctors, nurses aim to flip Congress seats with ... · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 16newsBerman slams Steil for voting to continue war in Iran for the sixth time
Berman publicly criticized Steil for casting what his campaign described as a sixth vote to continue U.S. involvement in the war in Iran.
Mitchell Berman: Slams Bryan Steil for Voting To Continue War in Iran for the Sixth Time · Sep 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 15endorsementDCCC adds Mitchell Berman to its 'Red to Blue' program
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Berman to its Red to Blue program, providing targeted party support and resources to help him challenge incumbent Bryan Steil.
Mitchell Berman Added to DCCC's Coveted 'Red to Blue' ... · Sep 15, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 11newsMitchell Berman wins Democratic primary for Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District
Berman won the Democratic primary on August 11, advancing to face Republican incumbent Bryan Steil in the November 3 general election.
The Road to November 3rd With WBA: Congressional ... · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 6pollImpact Research poll shows Steil leading Berman 49%–48% in WI-01
A survey of 400 likely voters conducted August 6–9 showed incumbent Bryan Steil ahead of Mitchell Berman 49% to 48%, per a poll tracker summary.
WI-01: Steil 69 in 100 — Call the Map · Sep 21, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- American Federation of Teachers Local 212 unionListed on campaign endorsement page; date not specified bermanforcongress.com
- U.S. Representative Pat Ryan officialListed on campaign endorsement page; date not specified bermanforcongress.com
- Wisconsin State Senator Mark Spreitzer officialListed on campaign endorsement page; date not specified bermanforcongress.com
- United Auto Workers unionListed on campaign endorsement page; date not specified bermanforcongress.com
- U.S. Representative Gwen Moore officialListed on campaign endorsement page; date not specified bermanforcongress.com
- Randy Bryce otherFormer WI-01 Democratic nominee; listed on campaign endorsement page; date not specified bermanforcongress.com
- Wisconsin Assembly Representative Clinton Anderson officialListed on campaign endorsement page; date not specified bermanforcongress.com
- Wisconsin Assembly Representative Chris Sinicki officialListed on campaign endorsement page; date not specified bermanforcongress.com
- Nurses for America organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; date not specified bermanforcongress.com
- Wisconsin Assembly Representative Tip McGuire officialListed on campaign endorsement page; date not specified bermanforcongress.com
- Defend the Vote organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; date not specified bermanforcongress.com
- Future Forum organizationListed on campaign endorsement page; date not specified bermanforcongress.com
- U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin officialU.S. Senator from Wisconsin wispolitics.com · Sep 10, 2026
- Wisconsin State AFL-CIO unionEndorsement announced August 27, 2026 wisaflcio.org · Aug 27, 2026
- New Politics organizationEndorsement announced August 17, 2026 wispolitics.com · Aug 17, 2026
- End Citizens United organizationEndorsement announced August 10, 2026 wispolitics.com · Aug 10, 2026
- Wisconsin Assembly Representative Ben DeSmidt officialEndorsement announced June 16, 2026 wispolitics.com · Jun 16, 2026
- Wisconsin Assembly Representative Ann Roe officialEndorsement announced June 11, 2026 wispolitics.com · Jun 11, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $713K
- Spent
- $561K
- Cash on hand
- $152K
As of Jul 22, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6WI01283(opens in a new tab)
Sources 20
- [1] Berman hits campaign trail in U.S. House race(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
- [2] The Road to November 3rd With WBA: Congressional ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [3] Priorities - Mitchell Berman for Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [4] DCCC Releases First TV Ad in WI-01: “Bucks”(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [5] DCCC Polling Memo: WI-01 is a Tied Race(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [6] Democrats eye Republican incumbent Steil in Wisconsin's 1st as ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [7] WI-01: Steil 69 in 100 — Call the Map(opens in a new tab) Sep 21, 2026
- [8] Democratic doctors, nurses aim to flip Congress seats with ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026
- [9] Mitchell Berman: Slams Bryan Steil for Voting To Continue War in Iran for the Sixth Time(opens in a new tab) Sep 16, 2026
- [10] Mitchell Berman Added to DCCC's Coveted 'Red to Blue' ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 15, 2026
- [11] Berman campaign: Senator Tammy Baldwin endorses ER nurse Mitchell Berman for Wisconsin's First Congressional District(opens in a new tab) Sep 10, 2026
- [12] Endorsers(opens in a new tab) Sep 8, 2026
- [13] Endorsement: Mitchell Berman for Congressional District 1(opens in a new tab) Aug 27, 2026
- [14] New Politics: New Politics endorses ER nurse Mitchell Berman for Congress in Wisconsin's 1st district(opens in a new tab) Aug 17, 2026
- [15] End Citizens United: Endorses ER Nurse Mitchell Berman in Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District(opens in a new tab) Aug 10, 2026
- [16] Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District election: Meet the candidates(opens in a new tab) Jul 13, 2026
- [17] Berman campaign: Assembly Representative Ben DeSmidt ...(opens in a new tab) Jun 16, 2026
- [18] Berman campaign: Assembly Representative Ann Roe ...(opens in a new tab) Jun 11, 2026
- [19] Mitchell Berman appears on UPFRONT with Matt Smith and Gerron ...(opens in a new tab) Jun 1, 2026
- [20] Mitchell Berman — official campaign website(opens in a new tab) Aug 8, 2025