Peter Barca

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Peter Barca
Image of Peter Barca

Democratic Party

Prior offices
Wisconsin State Assembly District 64
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 1977

Graduate

University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1983

Contact

Campaign website

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Peter Barca (Democratic Party) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing District 64. He assumed office in 2008. He left office on January 4, 2019.

Barca (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Barca earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1977 and his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1983.

Barca has worked as an employment specialist, CEO of Northpointe Resources, and as a teacher.[1]

Committee assignments

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Wisconsin committee assignments, 2017
• Assembly Organization
• Employment Relations
• Rules
• Employment Relations
• Information Policy and Technology
• Joint Legislative Council
• Legislative Organization

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Barca served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Barca served on the following committees:

2011-2012

During the 2011-2012 legislative session, Barca served on these committees:

2009-2010

During the 2009-2010 legislative session, Barca served on these committees:

Issues

Employee contracts

Gov. Jim Doyle's administration negotiated the public employee contracts and it hit a snag in the state legislature in mid-December 2010.

The Wisconsin Senate was deadlocked 16-16 on the series of public employee contracts the chamber considered. Democratic state Sens. Russ Decker and Jeff Plale joined Republican state senators in opposition.

"It wasn't a party-line vote," Decker said.

Decker is a member of the Bricklayers International Union. He voted for the slate of union contracts in a joint legislative committee Wednesday morning. He was stripped of his majority leader title in a closed-door meeting, following the first deadlocked vote.

When the Senate returned to vote by the same count on each of the remaining contracts, state Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, took the role of majority leader.

"I'm extremely surprised," said Barca. "Never in a million years would you that the majority leader,who's been telling people for two weeks that they (the Senate) had the votes and they were moving forward, would be the one to actually kill (the series of contracts)," Barca said.[2]

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2024

See also: Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District election, 2024

Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Democratic primary)

Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Wisconsin District 1

Incumbent Bryan Steil defeated Peter Barca and Chester Todd Jr. in the general election for U.S. House Wisconsin District 1 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Bryan Steil
Bryan Steil (R)
 
54.0
 
212,515
Image of Peter Barca
Peter Barca (D)
 
43.8
 
172,402
Image of Chester Todd Jr.
Chester Todd Jr. (G)
 
2.1
 
8,191
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
385

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 393,493
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 1

Peter Barca advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 1 on August 13, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Peter Barca
Peter Barca
 
99.8
 
59,758
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
103

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 59,861
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 1

Incumbent Bryan Steil advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 1 on August 13, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Bryan Steil
Bryan Steil
 
99.4
 
52,253
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.6
 
327

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 52,580
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Green primary election

Green primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 1

Chester Todd Jr. advanced from the Green primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 1 on August 13, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Chester Todd Jr.
Chester Todd Jr.
 
98.1
 
259
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.9
 
5

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 264
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Barca in this election.

2018

See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2018

General election

General election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 64

Incumbent Peter Barca defeated Thomas Harland in the general election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 64 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Peter Barca
Peter Barca (D)
 
78.3
 
16,773
Image of Thomas Harland
Thomas Harland (Constitution Party)
 
20.7
 
4,441
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.9
 
202

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 21,416
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 64

Incumbent Peter Barca advanced from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 64 on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Peter Barca
Peter Barca
 
100.0
 
4,978

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 4,978
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Constitution primary election

Constitution primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 64

Thomas Harland advanced from the Constitution primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 64 on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Thomas Harland
Thomas Harland
 
100.0
 
6

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 6
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2016

Elections for the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.

Incumbent Peter Barca ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Assembly District 64 general election.[3][4]

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 64 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Peter Barca Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 18,799
Total Votes 18,799
Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission


Incumbent Peter Barca ran unopposed in the Wisconsin State Assembly District 64 Democratic primary.[5][6]

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 64 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Peter Barca Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2014

Elections for all 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 12, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 2, 2014. Incumbent Peter Barca was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Barca was unopposed in the general election,[7][8] and was re-elected for another term.[9]


Gubernatorial campaign

See also: Wisconsin Gubernatorial election, 2014

Barca was considered a potential challenger to Republican Governor Scott Walker's bid for re-election in 2014. A grassroots social media outreach campaign was mounted by local activists aiming to urge Barca to run.[10] However, he did not file by the deadline and was not on the August 12 Democratic primary ballot.[11]

2012

See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2012

Barca won re-election in the 2012 election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 64. Barca ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 14 and in the general election on November 6, 2012.[12]

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 64, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngPeter Barca Incumbent 96.8% 20,264
     - Scattering 3.2% 662
Total Votes 20,926

2010

See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2010

Barca was re-elected to Wisconsin State Assembly District 64. He was opposed by Libertarian Daane Hoffman in the general election on November 2, 2010. He was unopposed in the September 14, 2010, primary election.[13]

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 64 General Election (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Peter Barca (D) 9,667
Daane Hoffman (L) 1,774
Wisconsin State Assembly, District 64 Democratic primary (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Peter W. Barca (D) 1,466 99.8%


Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Peter Barca did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Barca’s campaign website stated the following:

“

Bringing Down Costs for Middle Class Families

We need a representative who will work across the aisle to lower costs for working families.

The cost of gas and groceries is still too high and working families are struggling to get ahead, but Washington isn’t doing enough about that. Coming from a family of small business owners, Peter knows how hard it can be to get ahead. That’s why Peter is committed to rolling up his sleeves and working across the aisle to tackle rising costs and grow our economy.

From the U.S. Small Business Administration to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Peter has helped bring good-paying jobs to Wisconsin, support small businesses, and lower costs for small business owners, homeowners, and Wisconsin’s working families.

In Congress, Peter will work across the aisle to bring costs down and increase wages, just like he’s always done. He will take on price-gouging corporations and support initiatives that lower the cost of housing, health care, child care, and education.


Workers’ Rights

Peter is a longtime supporter of unions & organized labor.

As a union member himself, Peter has always been a supporter of workers’ rights and organized labor.

When former Governor Walker tried to repeal collective bargaining rights, Peter stood up for workers and led a 60-hour floor debate to protect workers. In the Wisconsin legislature, he consistently voted to protect organized labor rights, receiving a 97% legislative rating from AFL-CIO.

In Congress, Peter will continue to support workers and vote for legislation that strengthens unions.


Reproductive Freedom

Women alone have the right to make their own healthcare decisions. Full stop.

Reproductive rights are under attack nationwide. Peter believes a woman’s health care decisions are between herself and her doctor – not politicians.

Peter also believes anyone who wants to start a family should be able to do so. That’s why, in the Wisconsin state legislature, he took on big insurance companies in an effort to make sure people who wanted kids wouldn’t have to worry about the cost of fertility treatments. He’ll do the same to protect IVF access in Congress. He’ll continue to stand up to anyone to make sure family planning options, including IVF and contraception, are accessible and protected.


Small Business

Peter has supported small business his entire career.

Barca came from a family of entrepreneurs and was a former small business owner himself. Peter continued to serve his community when he left Congress as the Midwest Regional Administrator of the Small Business Administration. In that role, he increased the number and volume of SBA loans made to small businesses throughout the midwest, and supported significant economic growth in Southeast Wisconsin.

As a state legislator, he passed dozens of initiatives to assist small businesses and promote economic growth. He received an award from the Wisconsin Economic Development Association for his support of economic development, and multiple awards from the grocers’ association for his support of their businesses. He was on the Board of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for over a decade.


Health Care

Peter will fight to make sure every American has access to quality, affordable health care.

Peter knows firsthand the importance of affordable, accessible health care – his father was able to beat a long fight against cancer thanks to this country’s quality health care.

Peter believes every Wisconsin family should be able to see a doctor when they get sick. That’s why he’ll make it a priority to lower health care costs and protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

Peter has a track record of taking on big pharmaceutical companies to bring down prescription drug prices. He was one of the lead authors that passed the bill for making oral chemotherapy accessible to cancer patients. He’ll continue that fight in Congress.


Seniors - Medicare/Social Security

Every American deserves to retire with dignity.

Medicare and Social Security are under attack. Peter is committed to protecting the benefits seniors have worked for their whole lives.

In Congress, he will work to improve seniors’ quality of life, safeguard retirement earnings, and help keep more money in the pockets of retired Wisconsinites.


Environment

We need a representative who will stand up for clean air and safe drinking water.

We need to take action to reduce air pollution and ensure everyone has access to clean water in Southeast Wisconsin.

Bryan Steil doesn’t feel the same. While the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources was investigating Steil’s previous employer for PFAS “forever chemical” contamination of drinking water, Bryan Steil voted against legislation to regulate PFAS seven times. This harms Wisconsin’s safe drinking water, farms, livestock, and crops.

It is critical that we have a leader who will work toward cleaner air and drinking water.


Education

Our students deserve a world-class education.

As a former teacher and director of a camp for students with disabilities, Peter believes all children deserve a world-class education.

Peter is an active supporter of teachers and students, and he will continue to support teachers and pay raises for educators, invest in public education, and strengthen the teacher pipeline to combat the workforce shortage. In the legislature, he won an award for this support of special education from the Council for Exceptional Children.

In Congress, Peter will expand access to apprenticeship and training programs and work to make higher education more accessible and affordable for all students.


Protecting Democracy

Democracy will be on the ballot in November.

Peter is committed to protecting free and fair elections and our democratic institutions. In Congress, he will safeguard voting rights and ensure all voters have access to the ballot box.

Democracy will be on the ballot in November, and politicians like Bryan Steil have used their power to bend our democratic institutions in their favor.

Bryan Steil has worked with election denier Jim Jordan to strip local governments of election funding, peddled dangerous election conspiracies as Chair of the historically bipartisan House Administration Committee, and hired a staffer involved in Donald Trump’s fake elector scheme.


Veterans

We must support our veterans

After sacrificing to protect our freedom, veterans should not have to worry about making sure their country has their backs. Peter will always stand for our veterans.

As a member of Congress, Peter received an award from the VFW Junker-Ball Post 1865 for his support of veterans. In the Wisconsin Assembly, he led the effort to put a POW-MIA monument in the State Capitol.

In Congress, Peter will support initiatives to improve access to health care and mental health services for veterans and reintegration into the civilian workforce.


Border Security

There’s a crisis at our southern border and it’s far past time to do something about it. We need more border patrol agents and better technology to screen for fentanyl and illegal drugs. We also need to make sure there are pathways to citizenship, as well as a process for refugees to seek asylum in the United States.

Bryan Steil is all talk and no action on border security. For purely political reasons, he refused to support the bipartisan solution that his party helped broker and that was endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council.

Southeast Wisconsin deserves a representative like Peter, who will roll up his sleeves and work across the aisle to get comprehensive immigration reform passed.


Public Safety

Peter has a record of working across the aisle to protect public safety.

Families must feel safe in their communities.

That’s why in Congress, Peter voted to add 100,000 more law enforcement officers across America, including right here in the first congressional district. As our Secretary of Revenue, Peter added new state law enforcement positions to keep our children and communities safe from counterfeit products and toxic substances. In the Assembly, Peter was a lead author of a law that provides survivor benefits to the families of fallen officers. In Congress, he will continue to work across the aisle to support law enforcement and keep our communities safe.


Bipartisanship

We need a leader who will work across the aisle to get things done.

Southeast Wisconsin needs a leader who will ignore the partisan political games that paralyze Washington and work across party lines to get things done.

Peter has dedicated his life in public service to working across the aisle to deliver for Wisconsin families. He’ll continue going to bat for us in Congress - and he’ll work with anyone, regardless of party, to get it done.

As extremists gain outside political influence, Peter Barca will keep good faith bipartisan compromise at the center of his legislative philosophy and remain committed to making communities safer, securing the border, expanding access to healthcare, and lowering costs for families. [14]

”
—Peter Barca’s campaign website (2024)[15]

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Peter Barca campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* U.S. House Wisconsin District 1Lost general$2,312,575 $2,295,665
2016Wisconsin State Assembly, District 64Won $49,774 N/A**
2014Wisconsin State Assembly, District 64Won $30,720 N/A**
2012Wisconsin State Assembly, District 64Won $32,106 N/A**
2010Wisconsin State Assembly, District 64Won $47,631 N/A**
2008Wisconsin State Assembly, District 64Won $17,163 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Wisconsin

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Wisconsin scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.






2020

In 2020, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 14 to May 13.

Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues.
Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position.
Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community.


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012

See also

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External links

Candidate

U.S. House Wisconsin District 1
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 5, 2014
    2. ↑ Watchdog.org, "Legislature Stalls on Doyle-backed Contracts," December 15, 2010
    3. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates on Ballot by Election - 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016," accessed November 4, 2016
    4. ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "2016 Fall General Election Results," accessed December 2, 2016
    5. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidate Tracking by Office," accessed June 20, 2016
    6. ↑ Wisconsin Elections and Ethics Commission, "2016 Partisan Primary," accessed September 16, 2016
    7. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability, "Candidates Registered by Office," June 11, 2014
    8. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "2014 Partisan Primary Candidates," accessed June 19, 2014
    9. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Canvass Results for 2014 General Election," December 1, 2014
    10. ↑ Facebook, "Peter Barca for Governor," accessed January 10, 2013
    11. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates Registered by Office," accessed July 4, 2014
    12. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates on Ballot by Election - 2012 Partisan Primary 8/14/2012," accessed June 12, 2012 (dead link)
    13. ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed April 25, 2014
    14. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    15. ↑ Peter Barca’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed July 26, 2024
    16. ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
    17. ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
    18. ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
    19. ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "2015-2016 legislative scorecard," accessed May 31, 2017
    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		Wisconsin State Assembly District 64
    2008–2019     		Succeeded by
    Tip McGuire (D)


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