# 2020 Wisconsin's 7th congressional district special election

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vte :
A special election was held to fill the remainder of the term in the United States House of Representatives for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district in the 116th United States Congress. Sean Duffy, the incumbent representative, announced his resignation effective September 23, 2019, as his wife was about to give birth to a child with a heart condition. Governor Tony Evers chose January 27, 2020, as the date for the special election, with the primaries scheduled for December 30, 2019. However, the Department of Justice said that this schedule would be in violation of federal law, since it would provide insufficient time for overseas and military voters to receive ballots. Evers then rescheduled the primaries for February 18, 2020, and the general election for May 12, 2020.

## Republican primary
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Tom Tiffany, state senator for Wisconsin's 12th Senate district

#### Eliminated in primary

* Jason Church, U.S. Army Veteran and former staffer for U.S. Senator Ron Johnson

#### Failed to qualify

* Michael Opela Jr., businessman and farmer

#### Declined

* Luke Hilgemann, Republican strategist (endorsed Tiffany)
* Brent Jacobson, mayor of Mosinee
* Adam Jarchow, former state assemblyman (endorsed Tiffany)
* Jerry Petrowski, state senator for Wisconsin's 29th Senate district
* Romaine Quinn, state assemblyman for Wisconsin's 75th Assembly district (endorsed Tiffany)
* Fernando Riveron, surgeon

### Endorsements

U.S. Senators
* Tom Cotton, U.S. senator from Arkansas (2015–present)
* Joni Ernst, U.S. senator from Iowa (2015–present)
U.S. Representatives
* Dan Crenshaw, U.S. Representative from Texas's 2nd congressional district (2019–present)
* Adam Kinzinger, U.S. Representative from Illinois's 16th congressional district (2011–present)
* Brian Mast, U.S. Representative from Florida's 18th congressional district (2019–2023), U.S. Representative from Florida's 21st congressional district (2023–present)
State legislators
* John Gard, former state assemblyman from the 89th district (1993–2007), 88th district (1987–1993) and former Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Individuals
* Charlie Kirk, founder and president of Turning Point USA
* Charlotte Rasmussen, chairman of the Clark County Republican Party, and with Women for Trump.
Organizations
* Combat Veterans for Congress
* New Politics
* Wisconsin Federation of Republican Women
Executive branch officials
* Tommy Thompson, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
U.S. Representatives
* Sean Duffy, former U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 7th congressional district (2011–2019)
State officials
* Sheila Harsdorf, former Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary (2017–2019)
* Scott Walker, former governor of Wisconsin (2011–2019)
State legislators
* Adam Jarchow, former state assemblyman from the 28th district (2015–2019)
* Gae Magnafici, state assemblywoman from the 28th district (2019–present)
* Romaine Quinn, state assemblyman from the 75th district (2015–2021)
* Rob Stafsholt, state assemblyman from the 29th district (2017–2021)
* Patrick Testin, state senator from the 24th district (2017–present)
* Leah Vukmir, state senator from the 5th district (2011–2019) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018
* Shannon Zimmerman, state assemblyman from the 30th district (2017–present)
Individuals
* Luke Hilgemann, Republican strategist
Organizations
* Americans for Prosperity
* Club for Growth

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Tiffany | 43,714 | 56.6% |
| | Republican | Jason Church | 32,339 | 42.1% |
| | Republican | Michael Opela Jr. (write-in) | 18 | 1.3% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 76,100 | 100% |

## Democratic primary
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Tricia Zunker, president of the Wausau School Board and Associate Justice of the Ho-Chunk Nation Supreme Court

#### Eliminated in primary

* Lawrence Dale, businessman and Green Party nominee for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district in 2014

#### Failed to qualify

* Spencer Zimmerman, veteran and perennial candidate

#### Declined

* Janet Bewley, state senator for Wisconsin's 25th Senate district
* Margaret Engebretson, U.S. Navy veteran, attorney, and nominee for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district in 2018
* Pat Kreitlow, former state senator for Wisconsin's 23rd Senate district and nominee for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district in 2012
* Nick Milroy, state representative for Wisconsin's 73rd Assembly district
* Christine Brewer Muggli, attorney
* Tony Schultz, farmer
* Kelly Westlund, former congressional staffer for U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and nominee for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district in 2014

### Endorsements

Federal politicians
* Deb Haaland, U.S. representative (NM-1)
State politicians
* Janet Bewley, state senate assistant minority leader
* Beth Meyers, state representative
* Nick Milroy, state representative
* Patty Schachtner, state senator
Individuals
* Randy Bryce, activist, ironworker and nominee for Wisconsin's 1st congressional district in 2018
Party organizations and officials
* Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Labor unions
* International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 388
* United Steelworkers District 2
* Wisconsin State AFL-CIO
Organizations
* Citizen Action of Wisconsin

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tricia Zunker | 35,577 | 89.7% |
| | Democratic | Lawrence Dale | 4,388 | 10.3% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,999 | 100% |

## General election
### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Likely R | August 26, 2020 |
| Inside Elections | Safe R | April 23, 2020 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | April 23, 2020 |
| Politico | Likely R | April 19, 2020 |
| Daily Kos | Safe R | April 30, 2020 |

### Post-primary endorsements

Executive Branch officials
* Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States (2017–2021)
* Donald Trump, President of the United States (2017–2021)
U.S. Senators
* Ron Johnson, U.S. senator from Wisconsin (2011–present)
U.S. Representatives
* Mike Gallagher, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 7th congressional district (2019–present)
* Bryan Steil, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 1st congressional district (2019–present)
Statewide officials
* Rebecca Kleefisch, former Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin (2011–2019)
Individuals
* James Woods, actor
Organizations
* Susan B. Anthony List
U.S. Senators
* Tammy Baldwin, U.S. senator from Wisconsin
* Cory Booker, U.S. senator from New Jersey
* Kamala Harris, U.S. senator from California
* Elizabeth Warren, U.S. senator from Massachusetts
U.S. Representatives
* Sharice Davids, U.S. Representative from Kansas's 3rd congressional district (2019–present)
* Ron Kind, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district (1997–2023)
* Gwen Moore, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 4th congressional district (2005–present)
* Dave Obey, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 7th congressional district (1969–2011)
Statewide officials
* Mandela Barnes, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin (2019–2023)
Individuals
* Jon Bauman, actor, singer, game show host and political spokesman
* Piper Perabo, actress
* Bradley Whitford, actor, activist
* Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party (2019–present)
Labor unions
* International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 242
* International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Joint Council 39
Organizations
* EMILY's List
* League of Conservation Voters Action Fund
* Planned Parenthood Action Fund
* Sierra Club
* Social Security Works PAC

### Results

2020 Wisconsin's 7th congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Tom Tiffany | 109,594 | 57.21% | –2.90 |
| | Democratic | Tricia Zunker | 81,955 | 42.79% | +4.29 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 191,549 | 100.00% | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |