[upbeat music]
- My name is Ben Steinhoff
and I'm running for Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District
against Scott Fitzgerald.
I never planned to run for Congress.
But over the last four years
that my opponent has been in office,
it's become clear that the people of Wisconsin want change.
The only way to change Washington
is to change who we send there.
For almost 15 years, I've served our community
as a first responder paramedic, firefighter, dispatcher,
and worked in a children's emergency department
and operating room.
I've dedicated my career to preserving life
in fighting for the most vulnerable on the front lines
while working paycheck to paycheck
and struggling to make ends meet.
During the COVID-19 pandemic,
I spent what little free time I had
volunteering for my local EMS agency
because I saw the desperate need for EMTs in my rural community.
My opponent, as a majority leader
of the Wisconsin State Senate, while running for Congress,
blocked federal emergency funding
to rural communities like mine when we needed it most.
Not long after, my department was forced to shut its doors
and cease vital 911 operations.
After my rural community was stripped
of these critical emergency services,
I knew I had no other choice
but to fight for those in rural communities
who so desperately need new leadership.
My campaign is entirely funded by small dollar contributions
from every corner of the district,
while my opponent has taken
hundreds of thousands of dollars from insurance,
banking, and investment corporations.
And every day in Congress,
he puts the interest of his donors
over the needs of our constituents.
As someone who's felt the pain of knowing your paycheck is gone
before you even receive it, I will fight in Washington
to help the working class get ahead
by championing legislation
that puts Main Street over Wall Street.
I've spent my entire career
fighting for those who need help the most.
And as your representative, I'll fight for you
as I was trained to do on the front lines.
I'm running for Congress to fight for you.