By Jalen Maki

Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor

WISCONSIN – State Senator Tom Tiffany (R-Minocqua) will represent Wisconsin’s 7^th Congressional District after defeating Democratic challenger Tricia Zunker of Wausau in a special election held Tuesday, May 12.

Governor Tony Evers called the election after Rep. Sean Duffy resigned last September.

Tiffany, who was elected to the State Assembly in 2010 and the State Senate in 2012, received 57% of the vote, while Zunker, a law professor, associate justice on the Ho-Chunk Nation Supreme Court, and president of the Wausau School Board, garnered 43%. About 33% of eligible 7^th District voters cast ballots, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Lincoln County saw a 38% voter turnout, with 8,515 of the county’s 22,565 eligible voters casting ballots, according to data from the County Clerk’s office. Tiffany tallied 5,005 votes (about 59%), while Zunker received 3,510 (about 41%).

In a statement following his win, Tiffany thanked his family and supporters for his “decisive victory.”

“Throughout this campaign, one thing was made resoundingly clear: the people of our district want a strong, experienced voice who will take some Northwoods commonsense to Washington D.C.,” Tiffany said in the statement. “Someone who will work with President Trump to get our families safely through these rough times and back to prosperity. That has always been my promise to you and I am ready to hit the ground running on day one.”

Tiffany will serve until the end of Duffy’s term, but he will have to run again in November to serve a full two-year term.