Randy Bryce, the former ironworker who helped push Republican House speaker Paul Ryan out of politics, is launching a campaign to attract more working-class candidates to run for office.

In November’s midterm elections Bryce, nicknamed “Iron Stache”, narrowly lost a bid for Ryan’s old House seat in Wisconsin to Republican Bryan Steil.

The often bitterly fought campaign drew national attention in a battleground state that swung for Trump in the last election but saw Democrats win key seats. Bryce’s forceful opposition to Ryan was seen as a key factor in Ryan’s decision to not seek re-election.

In his new role, Bryce will be a senior adviser to the Working Families party (WFP), a political action group backed by unions and community organizations that backs progressive causes.

WFP initially asked Bryce to run against Ryan. “They have always been interested in getting working-class people to run,” said Bryce. “There are too many millionaires in Congress. They don’t know what it’s like to be laid off in the middle of winter and wonder: how am I going to pay my bills?”

Bryce said a couple of people had already asked for his guidance on running for office in the wake of the Democrats’ midterm success, which saw a record number of women and people of diverse backgrounds elected. WFP backed a number of progressive candidates in the midterms including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the 29-year-old New Yorker who will become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.

“I want to share my experience, things that worked, things that didn’t, let them know what to expect, anything that is helpful,” said Bryce.

Bryce will also work on WFP’s green infrastructure objectives and a to promote a “Green New Deal” climate change program that the organization hopes will create millions of new jobs while helping the environment.

“That’s something I have done for a living, help rebuild America’s infrastructure. That’s how I got into the middle class,” said Bryce.

Working Families Party national director Maurice Mitchell said: “Randy has already proved that ordinary people can do remarkable things by participating in our democracy and fighting for change.

“America needs more leaders like Randy Bryce, and we can’t think of anyone better to help spearhead our work to create good green jobs, stop climate change, and build a bench of working class candidates who will fight for the many, not the few.”