Republican Tom Tiffany wins Wisconsin special election

Republican Tom Tiffany won the special election in Wisconsin’s 7th District on Tuesday to fill the vacancy left by former Rep. Sean Duffy (R).

Tiffany, a state senator, defeated Democrat Tricia Zunker, a member of the Wausau School Board and associate justice on the Ho-Chunk Nation Supreme Court. Tiffany was winning by a 58-42 percent margin with about 83 percent of precincts reporting.

The Wisconsin Republican had the backing of President Trump, who worked to boost Tiffany the day before the special election.

“Tom Tiffany (@TomTiffanyWI) is a Great Advocate for the incredible people of Wisconsin (WI07). We need Tom in Congress to help us Make America Great Again!” Trump tweeted Monday.

Tom Tiffany (@TomTiffanyWI) is a Great Advocate for the incredible people of Wisconsin (WI07). We need Tom in Congress to help us Make America Great Again! He will Fight for Small Business, supports our Incredible Farmers, Loves our Military and our Vets….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2020

Duffy, who won reelection in 2018 by about 22 points, resigned in September in anticipation of the birth of a child who was expected to have health complications. 

Tiffany will serve the rest of Duffy’s term and will have to win again in November should he seek a full term of his own.

The election took place about a month after Wisconsin held primaries following a legal wrangling between Gov. Tony Evers (D) and Republican leaders of the state legislature over whether to postpone the elections due to the coronavirus.

Evers had sought to delay the elections but was prevented by the courts from doing so

The Wisconsin special election was one of two House races on Tuesday, with California also holding a contest to fill former Rep. Katie Hill’s (D) seat.