Michael Alfonso (American politician)
Michael Alfonso (born ) is an American Republican political candidate from Wisconsin. In October 2025, he announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2026 election for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district, the seat formerly held by his father-in-law, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. He received Donald Trump's endorsement in January 2026.
A former producer for Dan Bongino's radio and podcast program The Dan Bongino Show, Alfonso is married to conservative commentator Evita Duffy-Alfonso, the eldest daughter of Sean Duffy and Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy.
Early life and education
Alfonso was born in Vilas County, Wisconsin, and was raised in the Wausau area, where he attended high school. He is the grandson of Cuban refugees who fled the communist Cuban regime, a biographical fact he has highlighted as central to his political identity. He has also faced scrutiny over questions AbOUT his residency in Wisconsin, given an ACTIVE voter registration in Florida and a Wisconsin registration tied to a property owned by his in-laws. Alfonso has said he financed his college education in mathematics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison by working in the construction industry, "building houses, paving roads and laying concrete".
While a student at UW-Madison, Alfonso became active in conservative campus politics. According to his campaign biography, he was inspired by the conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose 2025 [...] he has said motivated him to seek elected office.
Announcement and primary field
Alfonso announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in Wisconsin's 7th congressional district on October 29, 2025, after the seat's incumbent, Republican Tom Tiffany, announced he would run for governor in 2026 rather than seek reelection. In his campaign launch, Alfonso described himself as a "pro-Trump conservative" and said he would focus on the cost of living, border security, support for farmers, and "constitutional rights".
Endorsements and fundraising
On January 27, 2026, Trump endorsed Alfonso on Truth Social, calling him a "MAGA Warrior" and a "young 'STAR'", and praising "his family" including Sean Duffy and Rachel Campos-Duffy for being "fierce advocates" of the Make America Great Again movement. Following the endorsement, Alfonso received support from Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and Majority Whip Tom Emmer, as well as Wisconsin Republican U.S. representatives Tony Wied, Bryan Steil, Scott Fitzgerald, and Derrick Van Orden. The conservative organization Turning Point Action also endorsed his campaign. Alfonso reported raising more than $305,000 through his own committee by the end of 2025 and more than $600,000 in the first quarter of 2026.
Caucus endorsement vote
On March 14, 2026, the 7th congressional district Republican caucus held an endorsement vote in Neillsville, Wisconsin. Alfonso did not receive the formal caucus endorsement, but was reported to have prevented any of the other Republican candidates from securing it as well, an outcome described by one witness as a "shitshow".
Personal life
Alfonso met his wife, Evita Duffy, while both were in college; she attended the University of Chicago, where she co-founded the conservative student publication The Chicago Thinker. The couple announced their relationship in 2020 and became engaged in August 2021. They married on June 24, 2022, at St. Brigid Roman Catholic Church in Peapack, New Jersey.