Democrats back Randy Bryce in primary to challenge Paul Ryan

National Democrats are backing ironworker Randy Bryce in a Wisconsin congressional primary battle for the right to challenge Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan in the November midterm elections.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee selected Bryce over educator Cathy Myers. The committee named Bryce to its list of 33 best prospects for flipping a Republican district.

Democrats need to flip 24 GOP-held seats to regain a House majority.

Bryce and Myers both come from the party's liberal base. But Bryce already has picked up many endorsements, including from independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Both candidates call for universal health care, and each was arrested recently while protesting GOP immigration policy outside one of Ryan's district offices.

Ryan has represented Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District since 1999. He's been speaker since 2015.