Michael Alfonso, the 26-year-old son-in-law of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, has secured the Republican nomination in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.
The northern Wisconsin seat carries a familiar family connection: Duffy himself represented the district in Congress from 2011 until 2019.
Alfonso is married to Evita Duffy-Alfonso, 26, the eldest daughter of Duffy and his wife, Fox News personality Rachel Campos-Duffy.
In the GOP primary, Alfonso defeated a field that included Jessi Ebben, Kevin Hermening, Niina Threlfall-Baum and Cheryl Ann Runkel.
Donald Trump threw his support behind Alfonso on Truth Social, saying it was a “great honor” to endorse him and praising the young candidate as a MAGA warrior and rising “STAR.”
Trump pointed to Alfonso’s positions on energy dominance, Second Amendment rights, border enforcement and election security as key reasons for Republican voters to rally behind him.
The primary, however, grew contentious as critics questioned Alfonso’s age and experience while also scrutinizing the influence of his high-profile in-laws in the Wisconsin congressional race.
Meg Ellefson, a Wisconsin podcaster and well-known former drive-time radio host, accused Duffy of using his Cabinet role and public profile to sway the election and help deliver a congressional office to his “unqualified, 26-year-old son-in-law.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s (left) moves to help elect his son-in-law Michael Alfonso (right) to the Wisconsin Congressional seat he once held has ruffled the feathers of some Republicans in the district as Alfonso faces a crowded GOP primary in August
An attendee flashes a thumbs up during a campaign event for Michael Alfonso, a candidate for US House in Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district, Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in New Richmond, Wisconsin
Ellefson added that she was ‘utterly disgusted by this blatant manipulation of voters’ and is backing one of Alfonso’s primary rivals.
Critics have pointed to campaign contributions Alfonso has received from transportation interests, suggesting those donations were made to lobby Duffy.
Transportation spokesperson Nathaniel Sizemore told Our News Outlet back in June that Duffy follows the rules before attending any campaign or fundraising events on behalf of his son-in-law, and that his campaign work has been in his personal capacity.
‘Before attending any event, career ethics officials at USDOT screen these events, review the hosts, advise on attendees, and provide recommendations that Secretary Duffy follows,’ Sizemore told Our News Outlet. ‘These processes and rules have existed for decades.’
Michael Alfonso (left) poses at President Donald Trump’s recent event in Chippewa Falls with his wife Evita Duffy-Alfonso and their newborn baby, Rosita (right)
The Duffy clan on the White House’s South Lawn, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy (fourth from right) posing alongside daughter Evita (third from right) and her husband, Wisconsin Congressional hopeful Michael Alfonso (right)
First Lady Melania Trump (left) and President Donald Trump (center right) made an appearance at Michael Alfonso (center left) and Evita Duffy-Alfonso’s (right) 2022 wedding, which was held at Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey golf club
‘Whether it’s installing a brand-new air traffic control system, transforming Penn Station, kicking dangerous truck drivers off the roads, or making cars more affordable again, Secretary Duffy uses the power of DOT to execute on the President’s ambitious transportation agenda. That’s it,’ Sizemore added.
The vacancy for the seat was created after GOP Congressman Tom Tiffany chose to run for governor in a primary contest, which he also won on Tuesday.
Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district is considered to be a GOP stronghold, and it has been represented by Republicans for the last 15 years.
