Wisconsin's Duffy 12th Republican to Exit US House

In what was inarguably a major source of heartbreak for Republicans from Wisconsin to Washington, D.C., Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis. — long considered one of the party's "stars of tomorrow" — announced Monday morning he was resigning from Congress, effective Sept. 23.

In becoming the 12th Republican U.S. Representative to retire, resign, or seek another office in 2020, five-termer Duffy now creates one more vacancy in the House his party must defend.

In contrast, Democrats are "playing defense" in only three districts. Two Democratic House members are retiring (Jose Serrano of New York and Iowa's Dave Loebsack) and one is running for U.S. Senator (Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico).

"I didn't know he was going to do it," Van Mobley, president of the Board of Trustees for the Village of Thiensville, and a strong backer of Duffy and President Donald Trump, told Newsmax shortly after Duffy's announcement.

Mobley pointed out he had been at a Republican event Sunday and at a Duffy fundraiser "two weeks ago, and nobody even talked about something like this happening."

Few we spoke to questioned the sincerity behind the reason for the resignation of Duffy, 47, and now in his fifth term. He revealed on Facebook his ninth child, due in October, "will need even more love, time, and attention due to complications, including a heart condition."

People acquainted with both Duffy and his wife, Fox News personality Rachel Campos-Duffy, said they almost certainly needed to make more money to deal with the needs of their soon-to-be-born child.

Now it is up to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to set a date for a special election once Duffy's resignation becomes official. Early speculation focused on State Sen. Tom Tiffany, who represents Wisconsin's Northwood, as a likely GOP candidate in Duffy's 7th District.

Tiffany, 61, is a strong conservative and Trump backer in the mold of Duffy.

Despite its representation in Congress by liberal Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wis., from 1969-2010, the 7th District was becoming increasingly Republican. Local sources believe the candidacy of Duffy, then a charismatic district attorney of Ashland County, convinced Obey to step down in 2010.

Although no "name" Democrat has yet been mentioned as a contender in a special election, the state and national party leaders are sure to wage a major fight to win the 7th. They note it was historically in Republican hands until then-Rep. Melvin Laird resigned in 1969. In the first special election under President Richard Nixon, the young Democratic State Rep. Obey won a major upset over the heavily favored State Senate Republican Leader Walter Chilsen.

John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.