Sen. Bernie Sanders makes campaign stop in Racine for Randy Bryce

Bernie Sanders

RACINE -- U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders was in the Badger State Saturday morning, Feb. 24 campaigning for democrat hopeful -- Randy Bryce.

Bryce, a veteran and union iron worker who is currently living in Caledonia, is vying for House Speaker Paul Ryan's seat in Congress.

"When working people stand up and come out to vote, we've got a lot more of us than they got of them," Sanders said.

Sanders, a former candidate for the democratic Presidential nomination, rallied support for Bryce after endorsing the candidate last November.

Randy Bryce and Bernie Sanders

Bryce,  who is also a cancer survivor, said he's inspired to be a voice for middle class families. "Our country is not working for working people right now," Bryce said. "The rich have never been richer, and the middle class has never been smaller, especially right here in Wisconsin."

The Milwaukee-area native is looking to clinch a spot on the ticket for Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District race, and challenge incumbent House Speaker Paul Ryan.

"And then you have somebody like Paul Ryan who says, 'after we give tax breaks to millionaires, we're going to make life harder for those seniors,'" Sanders said. "We got a message for Mr. Ryan: you're not going to cut social security, Randy and I are going to expand social security."

Randy Bryce

"He is not representing us anymore," Bryce said about Ryan. "You can't represent people you don't talk to. It's clear that this congress has no idea what it's like to be a middle class family today. That's why I'm running."

Sanders also appeared in an endorsement video for Bryce where the two discussed Medicaid, among other agenda items.

Bryce is first facing off against Cathy Meyers in the primary election for a spot on the ballot. Meyers is also a democrat hopeful, and currently a schoolteacher and Janesville School Board member.

Randy Bryce