Michael Alfonso, the son-in-law of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, has won the Republican nomination in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.

Alfonso, 26, won a crowded primary field after securing an endorsement from President Trump.

“It is my Great Honor to endorse MAGA Warrior, Michael Alfonso, a young ‘STAR’ who is running to represent the incredible people of Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District. Michael is the son-in-law of our GREAT Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and the wonderful Rachel Campos-Duffy, of FoxNews, one of the most popular (and talented!) anchors in all of Television,” Trump wrote on Truth Social before the election.

“His family has been fierce advocates for our Movement to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! As your next Congressman, Michael will work tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Champion our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Support our Military/Veterans, Safeguard our Elections, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump continued.

“Michael Alfonso has been a WINNER all of his life, comes from a truly spectacular family, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District,” he added.

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Mr. Alfonso was born in northern Wisconsin, graduated from University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a degree in mathematics and married Mr. Duffy’s daughter Evita Duffy when he was 22, according to his campaign’s website. He said he worked for a year as a producer on a podcast hosted by Dan Bongino, a fervent Trump supporter and a former deputy director of the F.B.I.

Mr. Alfonso has said he was inspired to run for office after the assassination last September of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who had galvanized pro-Trump students on college campuses across the country. Turning Point Action, the political organization founded by Mr. Kirk, endorsed Mr. Alfonso for his “unapologetic America First message.”

Other Republican candidates in the race had questioned Mr. Alfonso’s residency in the district. Mr. Alfonso, who was registered to vote in Florida, registered again in Wisconsin shortly before Mr. Trump’s endorsement, according to Wisconsin Public Radio, listing his address as a Wisconsin cabin owned by Mr. Duffy and his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, a Fox anchor.

On Tuesday, Mr. Alfonso defeated Kevin Hermening, a former Marine who was one of the Americans held captive when Iranian students seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979.

Other candidates in the race included an Ashley Furniture executive and a competitive dog musher.

The Republican megadonors Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein backed different candidates in the race. Mr. Uihlein contributed $1 million to Mr. Alfonso’s campaign; Ms. Uihlein contributed $1 million to Jessi Ebben, the Ashley Furniture executive.

“I want young people to be able to afford their first home, start a family, and build a life right here in WI-07,” Alfonso said.

“In Congress, I’ll work with President Trump to make his tax cuts permanent, lower costs, and keep more money in the pockets of hardworking Wisconsin families,” he added.

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Duffy, who represented the congressional district from 2011 to 2019, hit the campaign trail with his son-in-law.

“I’m so happy to be back in Wisconsin, hitting the campaign trail with my son-in-law, Michael Alfonso, and getting to spend time with my granddaughter, Rosita!” Duffy wrote on Facebook before the election.

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The seat is currently held by Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., who on Tuesday won the Republican nomination in the Wisconsin governor’s race.

Tiffany was first elected to the seat in a May 2020 special election after Duffy resigned due to one of his children’s health issues.

District 7 has been under control of Republicans for 15 years, and it is deemed a solid Republican by Cook Political Report. Trump carried the district with about 60% of the vote during the 2024 presidential election.

Alfonso will face off against Fred Clark in November, who won Tuesday’s Democratic primary for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.

Clark, a former Wisconsin state assemblyman, said on his website that he believes northern Wisconsin has the “makings of a new rural majority.”

“That’s a majority not based on old right wing and left wing politics, but a majority made up of real people who live and work in our communities,” Clark’s website said. “Fred Clark will become part of a new majority of leaders in Congress who will stand up, represent their communities, and do the work we expect from our elected representatives.”

 

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