Backlash Against Transportation Secretary’s Support for GOP Candidate

A recent article from Axios suggests there’s growing discontent regarding Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s support for Wisconsin Republican Michael Alfonso. This sentiment is echoed by a local podcaster in Wisconsin who has shifted his backing away from former President Donald Trump to another candidate in the Republican primary.

Mid-June, Axios reported on Duffy seemingly leveraging his cabinet role to back his son-in-law’s campaign for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.

The article indicates that Duffy’s endorsement of Alfonso has upset several local Republicans, who claim he’s misusing his influence and connection to Trump.

One of the sources for this report is Meg Ellefson, a Wisconsin podcaster and former radio show host. She stated that Duffy is “using his cabinet position and prestige to influence the election and hand over one of the nation’s highest jobs to his unqualified 26-year-old son-in-law.”

Ellefson mentioned that she used to be a staunch supporter of Duffy but is now “absolutely fed up with this blatant manipulation of voters,” opting instead to support one of Alfonso’s main opponents.

In response, Duffy’s publicist, Nathaniel Sizemore, argues that Duffy is not “abusing” his position for personal gain. He emphasized that Duffy’s objective is to utilize the Department of Transportation to further the president’s ambitious transportation initiatives.

Additionally, Sizemore clarified that Duffy supports Alfonso in his personal capacity. A spokesperson from Duffy’s team confirmed that the Department of Transportation’s ethics officer routinely reviews and advises on these events, ensuring compliance with regulations.

While Ellefson’s disillusionment with Trump has been clear for some time, she expressed that Trump’s “bad behavior” and that of his supporters contributed to her change of heart. In a 2022 editorial, she wrote about how Trump’s lack of humility often brings out the worst in both his supporters and opponents. She insisted that the Republican Party needs a strong leader, something she hasn’t seen from Trump, leading her and others to reconsider their support.

This month, Trump endorsed Alfonso, referring to him as a “MAGA warrior.” Alfonso recently stated that voters are eager for Congress to implement policies that align with Trump’s vision, asserting that the public understands Democrats as the party that, among other things, “puts boys in girls’ bathrooms and defunds the police.”