Overview
- June 10 reporting shows growing criticism in Wisconsin that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has aggressively promoted his 26-year-old son‑in‑law Michael Alfonso in the 7th District GOP primary.
- Duffy moved $1 million from his old congressional account into Alfonso’s super PAC and attended multiple Alfonso fundraisers, actions critics say use his profile to help the campaign.
- Reporting says Duffy lobbied President Trump for a public endorsement that Trump gave in January and that Alfonso has taken more than $50,000 from transportation‑linked PACs and held a Delta-hosted fundraiser.
- Duffy’s office says his support is personal, that DOT ethics officials review his appearances, and that the Hatch Act allows some private political activity by federal employees.
- Local Republicans say Duffy’s intervention has chilled endorsements, frozen donor and leader choices, and could reshape the primary contest and local party dynamics if the pattern continues.