RACINE, WI – Lorenzo Santos is again running for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District, setting up a possible November 2026 challenge to Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil.
Santos, a Racine resident, Navy veteran and member of the Navy Reserve, announced his candidacy Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. He previously ran for the seat in 2024 but later dropped out of the race as Democrats consolidated support around former state Department of Revenue Secretary Peter Barca.
In an interview with Racine County Eye, Santos said his decision to run again was driven by what he sees as a lack of representation for working families.
“We’re facing crises, and Bryan Steil is not representing everyday working families,” Santos said.
He accused Steil of enabling former President Donald Trump and said the congressman’s voting record shows he does not have constituents’ best interests at heart.
Santos said his campaign will focus on three priorities: affordability, healthcare and “preserving our democracy.”
Leaving emergency management role
Santos recently resigned from his position in emergency management with Racine County. He said it was “time for me to move on,” but also pointed to the impact of federal funding disruptions.
Santos said his decision was driven in part because of the partial shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which is affecting training and operations nationwide. He said he was scheduled to attend a Federal Emergency Management Agency training that was canceled because of the funding situation.
“If there is not funding for things, government comes to a standstill,” Santos said, arguing that Congress needs to assert its power over appropriations.
He said federal decisions were already affecting both his military and emergency management roles and that he believes he can make a greater impact by serving in Congress.
A contrast with Steil
Santos drew sharp contrasts with Steil throughout the interview and in his campaign announcement.
In his press release, Santos criticized Steil’s record on taxes and healthcare, saying the congressman backed tax cuts that favored wealthy Americans and voted against measures related to Affordable Care Act subsidies.
On the campaign trail, Santos said affordability is a top concern for voters, citing rising costs of living and the impact of tariffs on consumers.
“You should not be imposing tariffs on the end consumer, on working families,” he said, arguing that Congress should reassert its “power of the purse” rather than allowing policy to be shaped through executive orders.
On healthcare, Santos said access to care is a lifeline for many families and faulted Steil for votes he said undermined access to coverage. He said Congress should work to ensure a basic level of care for all Americans.
Santos also criticized Steil’s use of telephone town halls, saying he would instead hold in-person events to remain accessible to constituents.
“I will have in-person town halls where people can talk to me in the flesh,” he said.
Campaign message and launch event
In his announcement, Santos described his campaign as focused on “affordability, healthcare, and defending democracy.” He said he is prepared to challenge members of his own party if necessary and pledged loyalty to the Constitution and district residents rather than to any one politician.
He also said Democrats need to take a tougher stance in opposing policies they disagree with, adding that he has no intention to sugarcoat his views during the campaign.
Santos will officially launch his campaign with a public event at 4 p.m. March 7 in Monument Square in Racine.
The 1st Congressional District includes Racine and Kenosha counties, most of Walworth County and portions of Rock and Milwaukee counties. The seat is currently held by Steil, a Republican first elected in 2018.
Santos is one of several other Democrats who have announced their candidacy and will face each other in the August 2026 partisan primary. The other candidates are:
The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
