Enrique Casiano, chairperson of UAW Local 95鈥檚 Unit 12, speaks at the Wisconsin State Capitol alongside state officials, union leaders, and other union members, during a rally Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.
Enrique Casiano, chairperson of UAW Local 95鈥檚 Unit 12 in Janesville, speaks to strikers during a red rally in front of the Mercyheath East Clinic, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. Casiano announced his bid to run against Rep. Bryan Steil during the rally on Friday.
JANESVILLE 鈥 Enrique Casiano, chairperson of UAW Local 95鈥檚 Unit 12 in Janesville, has joined a crowded 2026 race for Wisconsin鈥檚 1st Congressional District seat.
Enrique Casiano, chairperson of UAW Local 95鈥檚 Unit 12, speaks at the Wisconsin State Capitol alongside state officials, union leaders, and other union members, during a rally Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.
Casiano, a Democrat, has been a leader in an ongoing labor dispute in Janesville. Union workers at Janesville鈥檚 Mercyhealth East clinic, represented by UAW Local 95, walked off the job in July.
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, a Republican from Janesville, was elected in 2018. Steil has said he鈥檚 running again. He鈥檒l face Republican challenger Connor Walleck, from Salem, in the Republican primary on Aug. 11, 2026.
Casiano joins what so far is a 5-way Democratic primary shaping on the Aug. 11, 2026, ballot.
鈥淚鈥檓 running for Congress in the first District as a Democrat and against Brian Steil,鈥 Casiano announced during a UAW rally on Friday in support of striking Mercyhealth workers. He said Steil has not served his constituents well.
鈥淗e鈥檚 let down the rural communities, the farmers, he鈥檚 let down the workers,鈥 Casiano said.
Casiano also questioned Steil鈥檚 loyalties, pointing out his campaign funding.
鈥淵ou can see where 40% of all the money he gets for his campaign comes from 鈥 bankers and insurance companies. So, who is he working for? It鈥檚 not us.鈥滳asiano said Friday was his public announcement that he鈥檇 joined the campaign and he said he鈥檇 received strong community support.
鈥淧eople are like, 鈥榶eah, let me know. I鈥檒l volunteer. What do we need to do?鈥濃 he said.
Enrique Casiano, chairperson of UAW Local 95鈥檚 Unit 12 in Janesville, speaks to strikers during a red rally in front of the Mercyheath East Clinic, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. Casiano announced his bid to run against Rep. Bryan Steil during the rally on Friday.
He said he鈥檒l begin campaign work in earnest soon, after his immediate UAW duties conclude in support of Mercyhealth East workers.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to settle this contract, I believe, in the next week or so and then I will focus on the race,鈥 he said.
Other Democrats who have said they鈥檙e running in 2026 for the 1st District seat, who will face off in the August primary, include Gage Stills from Racine, Miguel Aranda from Whitewater, Mitchell Berman from Raymond and Randy Bryce from Caledonia.
Winners of the Republican and Democratic primaries will move on to the Nov. 3, 2026, midterm election.
Also on the ballot is Adam Follmer, an Independent from St. Francis.
Candidates have until June 1, 2026, to officially join the race.
A spokesperson for Steil鈥檚 campaign said Friday that 鈥渁s yet another political activist enters the race, to compete over whose platform is more out-of-touch, Wisconsin families know that Congressman Steil is focused on the issues that matter most - lowering costs, making our communities safer, and protecting our seniors.鈥
鈥淐ongressman Steil is running for reelection and will win, just like last cycle when out-of-state dark money groups spent millions on Peter Barca, and Steil still won by more than 10 points," the spokesperson said.聽
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