Local Democrats are trying to bring down Rep. Paul Ryan (R) in the Badger State’s 1st district.

The district’s Democratic chairman created a “Kick Out Ryan Committee” to entice a Democrat into the race, the Kenosha News reported this week.

Ray Rivera, the chairman, told the paper: “If there is a Congressional seat that is to be won in Wisconsin away from an incumbent, it’s going to be this seat.”

Democrats never seriously have challenged Ryan, who was just elected to a fifth term with 63 percent of the vote. In his first race in 1998 when he was only 28, he won with 57 percent.

The district gave President Bush 54 percent of the vote in 2004, but Democrats believe it will be up for grabs next year.

“Paul Ryan is out of touch with his district and a reliable rubber-stamp for President Bush — his seat is ripe for the picking,” said Ryan Rudominer, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

But the Democrats have no obvious challenger yet.
— Nicole Duran