Beer vendor Ryan Strnad launches campaign for governor

Ryan Strnad, a longtime beer vender at American Family Field in Milwaukee, has officially launched a campaign for governor. He’s running as a Democrat. 

Strnad announced his candidacy for governor at Mitchell Boulevard Park in Milwaukee on Wednesday, in view of American Family Field, where he’s served beverages since the stadium opened. He filed paperwork earlier this summer and signaled a run last week.

Strnad has been a vendor dating back to 1988 at Milwaukee County Stadium, and in 2017, launched “Drinks in the Seats,” an organization lobbying for service workers at the stadium.

He also served in the military from 1994 to 1997, and currently works third shift in manufacturing. A main focus of his roughly 20 minute speech was on strengthening the working class. 

“I’ll be focusing on the working class and their families,” he said. “Gone will be Act 10, the first chance I get. Gone will be “right-to-work” legislation. I want to make it harder for employers to fire hard workers.”

Strnad, a resident of Mukwonago and a former Republican, also criticized Covid-era safety restrictions, saying this is an area where the Democratic Party has struggled in recent years.

“[The Democratic Party] took the side of backing restrictions and it really hurt the image and how people think the working class has left the Democratic Party,” he said in an interview. 

“I was one of the very few Democrats to take a stand against (coronavirus restrictions),” he said in his speech. 

Also in his announcement speech, Strnad discussed relaxing environmental regulations, including saying he’d sign an executive order on his first day in office outlawing emissions testing.

He added that some regulations have gone “a little bit too far,” but also held up a recycling bin to promote recycling. 

Strnad also criticized President Donald Trump over his tariff policy.

“We’re about ready to fall apart here with these tariffs,” said Strnad. “If I were in his shoes, I would just have left it alone.”

Strnad adds that he is “100% pro choice.”

“Any pregnant mother to be — or however you want to say it — who wants an abortion can have an abortion, regardless of what term it is in a pregnancy.”

Strnad says he plans to visit all 72 counties in the state to introduce himself, and particularly plans to introduce himself to voters in Madison.