Duffy’s Son-In-Law Claims Contentious GOP Primary In 7th District

Seventh district congressional candidate Michael Alfonso speaks to reporters Saturday, May 16, 2026, during the Republican Party of Wisconsin State Convention at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Baraboo, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

The Trump-endorsed son-in-law of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will be the Republican candidate in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.

Michael Alfonso will represent the GOP on the November ballot. He hopes to take over the seat his father-in-law held before he left Congress in 2020.  The mostly rural northern Wisconsin district heavily favors Republicans.

The Associated Press called the race for Alfonso at 9:16 p.m. His closest challenger was Kevin Hermening, a former U.S. Marine and Mosinee School Board president.

Alfonso, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, is married to Evita Duffy-Alfonso, daughter of Duffy and his wife, Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy.

If elected in November, the 26-year-old Alfonso would be among the youngest members of Congress.

He faced a bruising GOP primary against candidates who lobbed allegations of nepotism and questioned his relative lack of experience as well as his recent Florida residency.

On Tuesday night, a crowd of supporters at Milwaukee Burger Company in Wausau greeted Alfonso and his family with cheers and signs that noted that Alfonso was “endorsed by President Donald Trump.”

Alfonso received Trump’s endorsement in January. The president called him a “MAGA Warrior.”

Speaking to the media about his win, Alfonso pointed to that endorsement.

“This district voted for President Trump three times, and very clearly, that’s what the voters want in this district,” he said.

Alfonso said he felt Republican primary voters supported him because of his values, despite his age. He said he had the energy of a young man, but his values were focused on faith, family and freedom.

He also said he was willing to work with anyone who believes in those three ideas.

Alfonso said he was thankful for everyone that ran against him in the primary.

“It’s never easy to run for office,” he said. “This is my first time, and believe me, the arrows are flying all the time.”

Wisconsin’s massive 7th District has been represented by GOP members for 15 years. Stretching across central and northwestern Wisconsin, and into the Northwoods, it’s been solidly Republican since 2011.

The seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany. He first won the seat in a May 2020 special election, and was reelected in 2020, 2022 and 2024.

Tiffany is not seeking reelection, as he is running for Wisconsin governor on the Republican ticket. The announcement that he would leave Congress led to a crowded primary, as Alfonso and five other Republicans filed to fill his seat.

Alfonso received criticism from his own party over his actions on the campaign trail and skipping a GOP debate in Phillips earlier this year. Other Republicans accused him of being in Washington at a fundraising event.

Both Duffy and Alfonso were criticized by Democrats and conservatives for their role in a reality-style television show about a roadtrip.

Hermening compared Alfonso’s actions and fundraising to being “part of the swamp.” Another candidate, Jessi Ebben, said the district didn’t appreciate nepotism.

Former state representative Fred Clark wins Democratic primary

Alfonso will face Democratic nominee Fred Clark in November.

The Associated Press called the race at 11:37 p.m.

Clark, a former Wisconsin state legislator, forester and business owner from Bayfield, told WPR he wants to to be part of a “new Democratic Party” connecting and representing working people.

Clark said Congress needs to stand up to President Trump, and does not support the president’s actions on tariffs, foreign policy or environmental issues.

Duffy son-in-law Michael Alfonso wins bruising GOP primary in 7th Congressional District was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.