MADISON, Wis. (AP) ~ A state lawmaker and a school board president won primaries Tuesday to earn the right to run for an open seat in northern Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District once held by a reality TV star.
State Sen. Tom Tiffany defeated retired Army Capt. Jason Church in the Republican primary. Tiffany ran on his record of supporting former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s agenda, including Walker’s signature law stripping most public workers of their collective bargaining rights. He has tied himself closely to President Donald Trump. The president carried the 7th by 20 points in 2016.
Wausau School Board President Tricia Zunker defeated Lawrence Dale in the Democratic primary. Zunker, who doubles as a justice on the Ho-Chunk Nation Supreme Court, is looking to become the first American Indian to represent Wisconsin in Congress.
She and Tiffany will meet in a May 12 special election. The winner will get the seat for about six months before facing re-election in November.
Former U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy represented the 7th District for almost eight years before he retired in September to spend more time with his family. Duffy rose to fame by starring on MTV’s “The Real World.“ He met his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, on the show.
