Michael Alfonso, a 26-year-old congressional candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, appeared on NewsNation with his father-in-law, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, ahead of his primary election in Wisconsin. Alfonso is running for the congressional seat previously held by Duffy and has faced scrutiny regarding his qualifications and work history, with some local Republicans questioning his candidacy.
In response to allegations of nepotism, Alfonso stated, "I’m not gonna apologize for marrying my middle school sweetheart," referring to his wife, Evita Duffy. He emphasized his commitment to addressing voter concerns, claiming to have driven 60,000 miles in nine months for his campaign.
Duffy defended Alfonso's qualifications, highlighting his construction experience and work ethic. He stated, "I think it’d be great to have someone who knows how to put on a pair of jeans and a pair of boots and a hard hat and work his butt off 12 hours a day."
Alfonso's campaign has reportedly received significant financial support, including $1 million from Duffy's campaign committee to a super PAC backing Alfonso. Additionally, transportation lobbyists have contributed to his campaign, which is notable given the rural nature of the district.
While Alfonso has not held elected office before, he received Trump's endorsement, who referred to him as a "young 'STAR.'" Alfonso graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in December 2022 and has stated he currently works part-time as an accountant at a local church, although the church does not list him as an employee. He has previously downplayed the importance of work experience in politics, asserting that Trump's endorsement is more significant.