Milwaukee Alderman Peter Burgelis suspended his Democratic campaign for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District on Wednesday, calling on party members to unite behind a single candidate to defeat Republican incumbent Rep. Bryan Steil in the November midterm elections.
“I entered this race because I believe southeastern Wisconsin deserves leadership that is accountable, accessible, and focused on delivering results for working families,” Burgelis said in a statement. “I am deeply grateful to the volunteers, donors, supporters, and voters who believed in our campaign.”
Burgelis announced his bid in late April, entering a crowded Democratic primary to challenge Steil, who has represented the district since 2019. His candidacy was met with immediate skepticism since he did not live in the district.
Three candidates remain in the Democratic primary. Burgelis said he has reached out to fellow Democrat Mitchell Berman and offered his full support as the campaign moves forward.
“The stakes in this election are too high to lose sight of our common purpose,” he said. “Whoever represents our party should have the full support of Democrats committed to moving southeastern Wisconsin forward.”
Burgelis pledged to remain active in his role representing Milwaukee’s 11th Aldermanic District.
“It has been an incredible honor to meet and earn the support of so many people throughout southeastern Wisconsin,” he said. “I am proud to continue serving the residents of the 11th Aldermanic District and continuing to deliver results for them. While my campaign for Congress is ending, my commitment to public service is not.”
