A family of four standing outdoors on a grassy area under a large tree, smiling at the camera. The group includes two young boys, a man, and a woman, dressed in semi-formal summer attire.

Brad Smith is a lifelong Wisconsinite, veteran, and business leader whose story is rooted in rural traditions, hard work, and service to community and country. He is running for Congress to protect Wisconsin’s middle class, keep family farms strong, and ensure every family has access to healthcare, education, and good-paying jobs.

Brad was born in the town of Larsen in Winnebago County, where his father worked in the feed mill and his mother at the Century Elm supper club. His family’s tradition of service reaches back to the Revolutionary War, when his 6th great-grandfather rode with Col. Sheldon’s Dragoons, was wounded in battle, and later served in General Washington’s personal Horse Guards at Yorktown. Closer to home, Brad’s grandparents ran a dairy farm in Iola, while his grandfather on the other side served as Village President for 25 years. These roots taught Brad that strong communities are built on service, responsibility, and looking out for one another.

Brad grew up in Neenah and spent weekends on the Iola family farm where his love of the outdoors took root, and where he still deer hunts with family each November. Like many Wisconsin farms, his family farm eventually ceased operations, a reminder of the challenges facing small family farms today. That experience drives Brad’s commitment to strengthening the next Farm Bill, ensuring fair milk pricing, and advancing Wisconsin’s dairy heritage.

After graduating from Neenah High School, Brad enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard as a Forward Observer. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant and spent 14 months deployed in support of the Global War on Terror. During mobilization training in Mississippi, Brad and his unit were struck by Hurricane Katrina and received the federal Humanitarian Award for their efforts assisting FEMA access in operations to support New Orleans. His service taught him leadership, sacrifice, and how people from different walks of life can unite for a common purpose. It also deepened his commitment to ensuring every veteran has access to quality healthcare and that our military families are never left behind.

It was during his service that Brad met Jennifer, marrying before his deployment and beginning a partnership that has strengthened over more than 20 years. Together, they are raising two sons in Mequon, where Brad has coached a LEGO robotics team, mentored innovators as part of the National Science Foundation, and is a member of the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce.

Brad’s education story reflects his belief in opportunity for all. With support from the GI Bill, he became the first Smith man in seven generations in America to graduate from college, earning a double major in Digital Media Design and Spanish from UW–Stevens Point, and later a Masters in Business Administration through the UW System. This experience reinforced his belief that higher education and training, from technical schools to universities, must remain affordable and accessible for every Wisconsinite.

Brad built his professional career in Wisconsin, starting at a small Milwaukee software company serving cornerstone manufacturers like Briggs & Stratton, Harley-Davidson, and Ariens. Over ten years, he rose from Web Designer to Vice President on the Executive Team, helping grow the company through acquisitions and a NASDAQ listing. He has since held senior leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies and venture-backed startups, and now runs his own small consulting business. Those experiences showed him both the promise of American enterprise and the need to ensure that prosperity benefits workers and communities, not just executives at the very top. These are the lessons that drive his fight to stop the offshoring of local jobs, rein in runaway CEO pay, and build an economy that puts Wisconsin workers first.

Brad also saw firsthand how the decline in rural healthcare hurts families. His grandparents once received supportive, local care through a small-town nursing home, a facility that has since closed due to funding challenges. Brad knows rural hospitals and clinics are closing at alarming rates, and he will fight to strengthen Medicaid and protect the Affordable Care Act so that every family, urban or rural, has access to care close to home.

Outside of work and service, Brad is an adventure sports enthusiast who can often be found mountain biking, trail running, or skiing. He has traveled to 19 countries for business and exploration, but insists there’s no place like Wisconsin to call home.

U.S. Army soldier wearing camouflage uniform and hat, smiling, sitting on desert sand with numerous soldiers in background.
A man standing in front of a large screen with the logo 'ARi Sell More Stuff!' and a table with the logo 'ARIS NASDAQ LISTED'.
A family of four, including two children, a man, a woman, and a dog, enjoying time outdoors on a grassy field with trees in the background.
Two children sitting on a wooden bench inside, smiling and posing for the photo, with a window and a tree visible outside behind them.
A man and two children in winter clothing and ski gear standing together in a snowy outdoor area with ski equipment, a building, and snow-covered trees in the background.
A man and boy smiling at a robotics competition event, holding a certificate and a LEGO trophy.
A smiling woman and man kneeling on a bed of fallen autumn leaves in a park with trees in the background.