Bryan Steil


Bryan George Steil is an American attorney, businessman, and Republican politician from Janesville, Wisconsin. He is a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Wisconsin's 1st congressional district since 2019. Since 2023, he has served as chair of the House Administration Committee. Prior to his election to Congress, he served as a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

Early life and education

Steil attended Joseph A. Craig High School in Janesville, Wisconsin, where he was born and raised. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Georgetown University, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin School of Law.

Early career

In 2003, Steil spent a year working as an aide to U.S. representative Paul Ryan. Before his election to Congress, Steil spent a decade in the manufacturing industry in southeast Wisconsin. He was an executive for plastics manufacturer Charter NEX Film. He also spent time working for Regal Beloit, spending a short stint in China while working for the company, and also spent time at McDermott Will & Emery as an attorney.
In 2016, Wisconsin governor Scott Walker nominated Steil to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, and the Wisconsin State Senate unanimously approved him.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2018

Steil won the 2018 Republican primary in the race to succeed retiring incumbent and then speaker of the House Paul Ryan in Wisconsin's 1st congressional district. He went on to face Democratic nominee Randy Bryce in the general election. During the campaign, Steil was endorsed by, among others, Ryan and Donald Trump. Steil defeated Bryce with 54.6% of the vote.

2020

Steil was reelected in 2020 with 59.3% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Roger Polack.

2022

Steil was reelected in 2022 with 54.1% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Ann Roe and Independent Charles Barman.

2024

Steil was reelected in 2024 with 54.0% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Peter Barca and Green Party nominee Chester Todd Jr.

Tenure

Committee assignments

Steil has stated his top issues are workforce development, trade, and the student loan debt crisis. He opposes gun control measures, but supports funding for instant background checks.
Steil has stated that he favors making more trade partnerships with other countries. He has also advocated for more funding to be allocated to the region near the United States' southern border including support for finishing the Mexico–United States border wall. He also has called for more price transparency in the medical industry. Steil is an opponent of abortion and supports overturning Roe v. Wade. In 2020, he voted against federal aid for paid sick leave related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which passed 363 to 41 in the House. He later voted for the December 2020 COVID-19 relief bill backed by then-President Trump, the fifth-largest piece of legislation in American history.
On January 6, 2021, Steil condemned the 2021 United States Capitol attack, but did not call for Trump's removal from office, voting against the subsequent impeachment resolution on January 13. He voted against the Republican-sponsored objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electoral votes, thus helping to certify Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election. In May, he voted against forming the January 6 commission to investigate the attack.
On July 19, 2022, Steil and 46 other Republican representatives voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify the right to same-sex marriage in federal law.
Since 2023, Steil has chaired the House Administration Committee. In this role, he led hearings that contributed to the ouster of Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton, following allegations toward Blanton of wrongdoing.

Personal life

Steil is a Catholic. In November 2020, he tested positive for COVID-19. Steil was born and raised in Janesville and attended Janesville Craig High School, Georgetown University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School.

Electoral history