Michael Alfonso, 25, is running as a Republican in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, a seat held by Rep. Tom Tiffany, who has entered the 2026 Wisconsin governor’s race. Alfonso is the son-in-law of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who previously represented the district in Congress.
Michael Alfonso, 25, is running as a Republican to represent Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, positioning himself as a Gen Z candidate in a seat that is expected to open up as Rep. Tom Tiffany campaigns for governor in 2026.
The district—covering a large swath of northern Wisconsin—was previously represented by Sean Duffy, who is now the U.S. transportation secretary and Alfonso’s father-in-law.
At The Daily Wire’s AmericaFest pre-show earlier this month, Alfonso described the response he has received on the campaign trail.
“It’s going really well. I think everyone was worried about a 25-year-old running for Congress and everyone we’ve met, no matter how old or young, they’re excited to see someone that shows them that when the older generation is no longer here, there is still hope for the country,” he said.
Alfonso also said the September killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk motivated him to pursue elected office.
“I’ve heard it put that it was like seeing a family member die when Charlie got shot. And I think it changed a lot of paths in life. It’s the reason why I’m running for Congress sitting here, and I couldn’t be more appreciative to Turning Point for everything they do and bringing me to this event,” Alfonso said, adding that he also spoke on a panel at the gathering with other congressional candidates.
Kirk was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, according to the Associated Press. A suspect, Tyler Robinson, has been charged, and prosecutors have said they plan to seek the death penalty, the AP reported.
The Daily Wire article also pointed to broader political and cultural debates about younger voters, citing reports that describe shifting attitudes among Generation Z and referencing research from the Barna Group on youth religious engagement.
On policy, Alfonso said immigration and inflation are among his top priorities.
“We need to make sure the government isn’t wasting our money on every single thing they do, and we need to make sure that the only people that are here in the United States being a burden or taking tax dollars from the system are United States citizens,” he said.
Alfonso’s wife, Evita Duffy-Alfonso, said she views marrying young as a counter-cultural choice and noted the couple has known each other since middle school.
“So we met for the first time in middle school, so we’ve known each other for a very long time, and I don’t know, I just think, why delay happiness? Why wait?” she said.
She also said her parents—Sean Duffy and Rachel Campos-Duffy—met on MTV’s “The Real World” in the 1990s and have nine children.
“If you find someone who you love, who shares your values, why delay that?” she said, arguing that career and educational milestones can crowd out the value of family life.
