Sean Duffy's son-in-law, 26, to become youngest member of Congress - USA Today
At age 26, Michael Alfonso, the son-in-law of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, will become the youngest member of Congress after winning Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District.
Expected to take office Jan. 3, 2027, when the 120th Congress convenes, Alfonso will replace 29-year-old Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Florida, as the new youngest member.
Alfonso, a Republican, defeated Democratic challenger Fred Clark, a former Wisconsin state representative, in the Nov. 3 midterm election. Alfonso won with 56.08% of the vote (186,035 votes), compared with Clark's 43.92% (145,694 votes), according to Decision Desk HQ.
He will succeed Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, who ran for Wisconsin governor rather than seeking reelection.
Alfonso's campaign received endorsements from President Donald Trump and Duffy, who previously represented the district in Congress. His campaign focused on affordability, personal freedoms and bringing a younger generation of Republican leadership to Washington.
Born in February 2000, Alfonso works as an accountant for the Diocese of Superior and lives in Hayward, Wisconsin, with his wife, Evita Duffy, and their 5-month-old daughter.
He previously worked in the construction and concrete industry while attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also lived in Florida, where he worked as a producer for "The Dan Bongino Show."
Alfonso has never held elected office. During a Nov. 3 interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, he defended his age and lack of political experience, arguing that voters need a new generation of lawmakers.
"What has experience gotten us at the congressional level? Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, I mean, Joe Biden was a senator for a long time ... we tried that already," Alfonso told the Journal Sentinel. "It's not working."
He also said he traveled extensively throughout the district during his campaign, putting 75,000 miles on his car to meet voters.
Duffy publicly supported his son-in-law's campaign, highlighting his construction experience and connection to the district.
"I think it'd be great to have someone who knows how to put on a pair of jeans and a pair of boots and a hard hat and work his butt off 12 hours a day," Duffy said during an August interview on NewsNation's "Morning in America".
Trump endorsed Alfonso in May, calling him a "MAGA warrior" and a "young 'STAR.'" Alfonso described receiving the president's endorsement as the "greatest honor" in a social media post, and he campaigned on supporting Trump's agenda.
Alfonso has identified affordability as a major priority, including adopting policies to help first-time homebuyers and reducing health care costs.
He also said he plans to introduce legislation on Title IX protections aimed at restricting transgender girls and women from using facilities designated for women.
He's also expressed support for a Medicare voucher system and openness to raising the voting age to 21.
Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District covers much of northern and central Wisconsin and has historically favored Republican candidates.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on X @athompsonUSAT
