Republican U.S. Representative Bryan Steil is running for re-election in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District against Democratic challenger Peter Barca. Inflation and immigration are two main issues on the minds of Wisconsin voters, according to recent polls, and both candidates have addressed these concerns in their campaigns.
During a press conference, Steil focused primarily on the issue of inflation, which is central to his campaign strategy. He emphasized that people are highly concerned about the country’s economic direction under President Joe Biden’s leadership. According to Steil, the cost of groceries, median mortgages, car prices, and insurance premiums has risen dramatically since Biden took office in January 2021. Furthermore, energy prices at the pump and utility bills have increased significantly due to what he called “corrupt” policies under the current administration.
In addition to addressing inflation concerns, Steil criticized President Biden’s handling of the U.S.-Mexico border and the resulting surge in migration to midwestern states like Wisconsin. He highlighted that Whitewater, a city with a population of around 15,000 people, has experienced an influx of over 1,000 migrants within the past two years, placing a significant burden on local first responders and the school system.
On Monday, President Biden posted a letter on social media claiming that his administration has achieved “historic success” in various areas such as job creation, unemployment levels, health care and drug affordability, infrastructure growth, and student debt relief. However, the letter did not mention the administration’s track record on inflation or border policy.
When Biden assumed office in January 2021, the inflation rate was 1.4%, which increased to 3.3% by May 2022. The highest inflation rate during his tenure was 9.1% in June 2022, with a low of 3.0% in June 2023.
In a March 24, 2021 announcement, President Biden assigned Vice President Kamala Harris the responsibility of addressing migration issues at the southern border and working with Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries to help reduce the number of people entering the United States illegally. Since January 2021, an estimated 12 million people have entered the country without permission, coming from more than 150 countries.
Federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, have admitted they are unable to locate millions of these unauthorized immigrants, as reported by The Center Square.
