
2026 Candidate Statement: Brad Smith, U.S. House – 6th Congressional District
Clip: Special | 3m 5sVideo has Closed Captions
Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, ECB or UW.
PBS Wisconsin offers Brad Smith, a 2026 Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District, up to four minutes of unedited remarks on the topic(s) of their choosing. Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board or the Board of Regents of the UW System.
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PBS Wisconsin Public Affairs is a local public television program presented by PBS Wisconsin

2026 Candidate Statement: Brad Smith, U.S. House – 6th Congressional District
Clip: Special | 3m 5sVideo has Closed Captions
PBS Wisconsin offers Brad Smith, a 2026 Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District, up to four minutes of unedited remarks on the topic(s) of their choosing. Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board or the Board of Regents of the UW System.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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- Brad Smith: Hi, I'm Brad Smith, nominee for Congress here in the 6th Congressional District.
I'm a lifelong Wisconsinite and resident of this district.
I'm a husband, a father of two, an Army veteran, and a leader who has spent my career solving difficult problems.
And my family's story closely mirrors the story of this district, from generations of dairy farmers in central Wisconsin, to my parents' working class beginnings in the Fox Valley, and now to my family in Ozaukee County, where I own a small business.
Our story has been one of opportunity, hard work, and economic mobility, where each generation of my family helped build and pass opportunity on to the next.
In other words, the American Dream.
And sadly, that path has become so much harder today, and that is what has led me to run for this office.
As a parent and lifelong resident, I feel a deep responsibility to restore that opportunity.
I'm a proud public school graduate and earned my bachelor's and master's degrees from our amazing UW system.
And to make that all possible, I enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard, where I served eight years, rose to the rank of staff sergeant, and led soldiers during a 14-month overseas deployment after 9/11.
I'm also proud to have helped FEMA following Hurricane Katrina, earning the Federal Humanitarian Service Medal.
Over the past 20 years, I've led organizations through times of major change where there is no playbook.
I've helped grow a local company out of bankruptcy and save jobs.
I've helped lead a small Wisconsin company onto the Nasdaq.
I've worked internationally across cultures, helped a nonprofit get more people riding bicycles, as well as help building owners reduce their carbon emissions.
My career hasn't been spent in politics or in government.
It's been spent building teams, leading through change, and being accountable for results.
And that's exactly the outside perspective I'll bring to Congress.
See, the middle class opportunity that gave my family a shot is disappearing, and families here are doing everything right, and yet they're still falling behind.
Our small businesses and farms are being squeezed, struggling with chaotic tariffs and damaging immigration policy.
Our families are struggling to afford a home, basic healthcare, and now even the cost of essentials like gas and groceries are breaking our budgets.
But I believe we can still build an economy that works for everyone here with good-paying jobs, where everyone pays their fair share, with affordable and usable healthcare available as a right, and education and training investment for all paths.
I also believe we need to legislate aggressively to protect our natural resources from irresponsible development, and make sure our communities have a voice on major developments like data centers and transmission lines.
You see, these are not partisan issues.
These are people issues that touch everyone living here.
And I'm here to fight for us.
I've spent my life serving my country, solving problems, and delivering results.
I would be honored to do exactly that for the 6th District.
I'm Brad Smith, and I'm asking for your vote this November 3.
Thank you so much.
[percussive music]
2026 Candidate Statement: Alexander Kent, U.S. House – 3rd Congressional District
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Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, ECB or UW. (3m 58s)
2026 Candidate Statement: Bryan Steil, U.S. House - 1st Congressional District
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2026 Candidate Statement: Elizabeth Fitzgibbon, U.S. House – 6th Congressional District
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2026 Candidate Statement: Fred Clark, U.S. House – 7th Congressional District
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Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, ECB or UW. (3m 53s)
2026 Candidate Statement: Glenn Grothman, U.S. House – 6th Congressional District
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Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, ECB or UW. (3m 55s)
2026 Candidate Statement: Gwen Moore, U.S. House – 4th Congressional District
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Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, ECB or UW. (4m)
2026 Candidate Statement: Mark Pocan, U.S. House – 2nd Congressional District
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Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, ECB or UW. (3m 50s)
2026 Candidate Statement: Matthew Arndt, U.S. House – 6th Congressional District
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Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, ECB or UW. (3m 26s)
2026 Candidate Statement: Michael Alfonso, U.S. House – 7th Congressional District
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Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, ECB or UW. (3m 57s)
2026 Candidate Statement: Mike Thurow, U.S. House – 6th Congressional District
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Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, ECB or UW. (2m 46s)
2026 Candidate Statement: Mitchell Berman, U.S. House - 1st Congressional District
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Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, ECB or UW. (3m 8s)
2026 Candidate Statement: Rick Crosson, U.S. House – 8th Congressional District
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Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, ECB or UW. (3m 58s)
2026 Candidate Statement: Tony Wied, U.S. House – 8th Congressional District
Video has Closed Captions
Candidate Statements do not reflect the opinions or policies of PBS Wisconsin, ECB or UW. (3m 50s)
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