Who is Peter Barca? What to know about Democratic candidate challenging Bryan Steil.
Former Democratic congressman and state Assembly leader Peter Barca is officially challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, who has represented the southeastern corner of Wisconsin in Congress since 2019.
The 68-year-old Kenosha Democrat will formally launch his campaign Thursday. Barca told the Journal Sentinel in late March that he was considering running for the position and would make a decision in the coming weeks.
"We have just a do-nothing, dysfunctional Congress, and people are hungry for leadership," Barca told the Journal Sentinel. "I have a long record of bipartisanship, working across the aisle and getting things done for our community. ... So, now as much as ever, I think we're at a critical point."
More: Democrat Peter Barca to challenge Bryan Steil in 1st Congressional District
Another higher-profile Democrat, former Assembly leader Mike Sheridan from Janesville, was also considering challenging Steil but decided not to join the race.
Two other Democrats — Lorenzo Santos and Diane Anderson — have announced runs for the district. Any primary for the seat would take place Aug. 13, with the general election Nov. 5.
With Barca officially in the race, here's what to know about his political history, education and district:
When was Peter Barca in the state Legislature?
Barca had two stints in the state Assembly: from 1985 until 1993, then from 2009 until 2019. He was the Assembly minority leader from 2011 though 2017, according to the Wisconsin Blue Book.
That means Barca led Democrats in the Assembly while they were in the minority during those years, including when Act 10 was passed. He led a more than 60-hour continuous floor debate in an unsuccessful effort to kill the bill.
Barca was forced out of leadership after facing pressure from members of his party. He had drawn the ire of some Democrats for voting for a $3 billion incentive package for Taiwanese manufacturing company Foxconn. Others were concerned about the lack of effectiveness of the caucus.
When was Peter Barca a congressman?
Barca is running for the same district he represented from 1993 to 1995. The seat became open when Wisconsin congressman Les Aspin left Congress to become defense secretary in the Clinton administration.
Barca won the special election to take Aspin's place, but Barca lost reelection in 1994 to Republican Mark Neumann. Both were extremely tight elections, with Barca winning or losing by less than one percentage point.
Barca decided to return to the state Assembly in 2019, rather than run again for Congress when former House Speaker Paul Ryan didn't seek reelection.
What other positions has Peter Barca held?
Most recently, Barca led the state Department of Revenue in Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' administration. On March 28, Evers announced Barca would leave the position. A day later, Barca said he was considering running for Congress.
As revenue secretary, Barca was involved in major compromises reached in the most recent legislative session, including an overhaul of alcohol industry regulations and an increase in shared revenue for local governments.
After Congress, Barca also spent about five years in the Clinton administration as the Midwest regional administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
What did Peter Barca do outside of politics?
Following his work in the federal government, Barca spent about a decade as the vice president and president of Aurora Associates International, a project management company focused on international development.
According to a UW-Madison La Follette School of Public Affairs alumni profile, Barca also spent his early career as director of the Friendship Camp, where he worked with children with special needs.
A 1984 Kenosha News article also notes Barca worked as a newspaper distribution manager and a teacher in the Kenosha Unified School District.
What have Republicans said about Peter Barca?
Barca is unusual in that both parties have offered him praise throughout his political career. That's something that could come up in campaign messaging over the next few months.
When he stepped down from his Assembly leadership post, Sen. Van Wanggaard from Racine described Barca as “a rare breed in Madison, a politician who can disagree and advocate for his position without being disagreeable.” Former Gov. Scott Walker once praised him as a “straight shooter” despite their political differences.
When Evers named Barca revenue secretary, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said the governor "finally got one right" by selecting a "reasonable Democrat who is more than willing to work across the aisle."
Not all Republicans have praised Barca. Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner said Barca running in 2024 "would be a mistake." He cited Barca's opposition to a 2016 state bill that would have banned sanctuary cities that provide protections for immigrants.
"If Peter Barca decides to return to Kenosha from Madison, he will come to find that a lot has changed in Kenosha since he first entered politics forty years ago," a release from the Republican Party of Wisconsin said.
Barca told the Journal Sentinel that Congress needs to take action on immigration at the southern border. Along with the U.S.-Mexico border, he listed the economy, workforce issues, and health care access for women and seniors among top issues.
Where is Peter Barca from?
Barca is a "lifelong citizen of Kenosha and Somers," according to his bio on the Department of Revenue's website. He attended Kenosha Bradford High School.
Both of those areas are part of Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District. The southeastern district is one of two House districts in the state that are truly competitive.
Steil, now in his fourth term, hasn't faced a big-name challenger in recent years and has easily won his last reelection races. In 2022, Steil won with 54% of the vote.
More: Outside a gas station, Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil hopes to win over a Democratic city
Where did Peter Barca go to school?
According to his legislative bio, Barca got his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He received a master’s in public administration and educational administration from UW-Madison. He also attended graduate school at Harvard University.
According to a UW-Madison alumni profile, Barca was a "self-proclaimed math geek."
Who is in Peter Barca's family?
Barca and his wife have two children: a son who graduated from Fordham University and a daughter who graduated from UW-Madison, according to his bio.
Barca's father, also named Peter, owned and operated a conveyor belt distributing company and two restaurants in Kenosha, according to his obituary in the Kenosha News.
Lawrence Andrea contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who is Peter Barca? What to know about Democrat taking on Bryan Steil.
