Sean Duffy Transfers $1M From Old Campaign Account to Super PAC Backing Son-in-Law Michael Alfonso in Wisconsin GOP Primary

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy transferred $1 million from his former congressional campaign account to a super PAC supporting his 26-year-old son-in-law, Michael Alfonso, last October. Alfonso, a first-time candidate, is running in the Republican primary for Wisconsin's open 7th Congressional District seat. Duffy attended Alfonso's first campaign event the month after the transfer.

He later appeared at fundraisers for Alfonso in Naples, Florida, and Wausau, Wisconsin. Several members of Duffy's former political team now work for Alfonso. President Trump endorsed Alfonso in January after Duffy and his wife, Rachel Campos Duffy, lobbied for the endorsement without first notifying senior White House officials.

Alfonso has raised more than $50,000 from transportation-associated PACs. Delta Airlines hosted a December fundraiser for him. Alfonso also appears in the reality show "Great American Road Trip," which documents the Duffy family's travels across the United States over seven months.

A trailer shows Alfonso and the family entering the Oval Office to meet Trump. Duffy attended the 7th Congressional District GOP caucus meeting in March at an American Legion post in Neillsville, a town of 2,500 people. Local officials had planned to endorse a candidate but declined to back anyone.

Ellefson said she had supported Duffy earlier in his career but is "utterly disgusted by this blatant manipulation of voters" and now backs one of Alfonso's rivals. Duffy spokesperson Nathaniel Sizemore said Duffy "uses the power of DOT to execute on the president's ambitious transportation agenda.

" Sizemore said Duffy supports Alfonso in his "personal capacity" and that DOT ethics officials screen campaign events, review hosts, advise on attendees, and provide recommendations that Duffy follows.