Cathy Myers, Randy Bryce face off in first Democratic primary debate in bid for Paul Ryan's seat

Mary Spicuzza | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

LAKE GENEVA - Randy Bryce has viral campaign videos, a steep fundraising advantage and celebrity endorsements.

But Cathy Myers told the crowd at a debate Sunday night that she's the candidate who can help Democrats take back the U.S. House.

"We need to elect someone who can not only win, but serve," Myers said.

The two Democratic candidates faced off for their first debate at Badger High School.

The winner of next month's Democratic primary will get the chance in November to win the seat held for the last 20 years by House Speaker Paul Ryan, who announced this spring that he would not seek re-election.

Bryce, a union ironworker, and Myers, a teacher and Janesville School Board member, saved their harshest criticism for Republicans, especially President Donald Trump, Gov. Scott Walker and Ryan.

But Myers also hammered Bryce over a variety of issues, accusing him of flip-flopping on things such as immigration and public subsidies for the massive Foxconn project being built in southeastern Wisconsin.

"We have to make a distinction. We have to be talking about the issues. It is that important, and sometimes we have got to bring up some things that might be unpleasant," Myers told reporters after the debate. "I always like to call politics a contact sport."

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During the one-and-a-half hour debate, both candidates slammed Republicans over health care, tax policy, education and gun issues. Both offered scathing criticism of the Trump administration's decision to separate children and their parents after they crossed the U.S. border with Mexico. Bryce said anyone who's not screaming bloody murder over family separations "doesn't get to claim family values," and repeated his calls to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Myers described family separations at the border as cruel and unconscionable, and said “ICE is made up of a lot of thugs. It really is.”

Myers accused Bryce of flipping on immigration issues, accusing him of previously supporting law enforcement working with ICE.

Bryce defended his position, saying he had merely said local law enforcement should get all of the tools it needs to pursue criminals, such as gang members.

Myers and Bryce criticized Ryan's tax overhaul, Walker's handling of infrastructure and Ryan and other Republicans' health care policies.

And both slammed the massive Foxconn project, saying it is a bad deal for taxpayers.

"It's smoke and mirrors," Myers said. "It is corporate welfare, and it does not help workers at all."

She then accused Bryce of flip-flopping on Foxconn, and criticized his support of the Milwaukee Bucks arena.

Bryce defended his support of the arena project, saying the Bucks had promised to pay living wages.

Both candidates vowed to not accept money from gun manufacturers and interest groups such as the National Rifle Association (NRA).

"This isn’t a Second Amendment issue. This is about money," Myers said. "This is about being able to sell guns."

While she attacked Bryce on issues, she did not bring up his recently reported past legal troubles or nine arrests, including a DUI from some 20 years ago.

A Bryce spokeswoman later said he was committed to not returning Myers' attacks.

"The 2018 election is too important for Democrats to be attacking other Democrats," said Bryce spokeswoman Julia Savel. "Our campaign is in construction, not demolition."