Randy Bryce has fundraising advantage over fellow Democrat Cathy Myers

Mary Spicuzza | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Democratic congressional candidate Randy Bryce is heading into next month's primary with a major fundraising advantage over his opponent, Cathy Myers.

Bryce, who raised $1.2 million over the past three months, reported having more than $2 million cash on hand at the end of last month, campaign finance reports show.

Myers, a teacher and Janesville School Board member, has just about $153,000 in her campaign war chest, according to the Federal Election Commission's online database.

Bryce, an iron worker, and Myers will face off on Aug. 14 primary in the race for House Speaker Paul Ryan's seat representing southeast Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District.

Her fundraising numbers have for months trailed the haul brought in by Bryce, who kicked off his campaign with a viral video that got national attention.

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Bryce has recently faced questions about his past, including nine arrests, as well as his previous financial problems.

Bryce's campaign has already raised more than $6 million, while Myers campaign reported raising a total of only about $1.1 million.

The winner of next month's primary will face the Republican primary winner in November.

The candidates in the GOP primary include Bryan Steil, the member of a longtime Janesville Republican family who has been endorsed by Ryan, businessman and former Green Beret Nick Polce, former Capitol protester Jeremy Ryan, and Paul Nehlen.

Nehlen, who was beaten handily by Ryan in 2016, has drawn scathing criticism for his racist and anti-Semitic comments.

Steil, a UW regent, has an overwhelming cash advantage in the Republican primary race. He reported having about $619,000 cash on hand, compared to Nehlen's $12,481, Polce's $8,464.00 and Jeremy Ryan, who reported having no cash on hand.