Republican Rep. Sean Duffy, who has represented Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District since first winning office in the tea party wave of 2010, announced on Monday that he would resign from Congress, effective Sept. 23. Duffy, a former prosecutor who was best known for his appearance on the MTV reality show Real World, explained his decision by saying he and his wife are expecting a child in October who will face health issues, including a heart condition.
Duffy’s departure will necessitate a special election to fill his seat, which Democrat Dave Obey had held for decades until his retirement in 2010. This district, which occupies rural northwestern Wisconsin, has moved sharply away from Democrats in recent years. In 2016, Mitt Romney carried it by just a 51-48 margin, but four years later, Donald Trump won it 58-37. In last year’s race for governor, Republican Scott Walker won the 7th 57-41 despite losing statewide, though Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin performed better, losing it just 52-48. Republicans will therefore be favored to hold this seat.