Duffy, Westlund Square Off In 7th Congressional District Debate

U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Weston, faced his Democratic Party challenger Kelly Westlund in their only broadcast debate on Wednesday night.

Duffy is seeking a third term in northern Wisconsin’s 7th District against Westlund, who is running a campaign based on economic populism and the environment. In last night’s debate, she accused Duffy of having an anti-woman voting record.

“I’m running against a congressman who has one of the most anti-woman voting records in Congress,” said Westlund. “He co-sponsored a bill to redefine rape. The Congress right now is 18 percent female, while we’re more than half the population in this country. If there were more women sitting at the table, I suspect that there would be a very different conversation.”

Duffy accused Westlund of divisive politics.

“That would be a space where you could use your conflict resolution degree, Kelly, to actually look at everyone, whether you’re white or brown or black, or you’re a man or a woman, you’re old or you’re young,” said Duffy. “I think divisive politics that come into play just for political gain, I think have separated the country.”

One of the most divisive issues in the district is the proposed iron ore mine in the Penokee Hills. It is also an issue that divides Westlund and Duffy. Duffy noted that there will be agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that will be monitoring the mine closely.

“If they say yes, that we can do it safely, that we can get jobs that pay $50,000 to $80,000 a year, I’m all for that,” he said.

Westlund described the mining company behind the proposal as a bad actor.

“Gogebic Taconite came to our community in January 2011, and they told us that they could do this project safely without making changes to the legislation that applied to it. They lied. They said they would not seek legislative changes and they did,” she said.

Sean Duffy and Kelly Westlund were questioned by reporters from the Wausau Daily Herald, WAOW-TV and WSAW-TV.

Editor’s Note: With full disclosure, the author of this article, Glen Moberg, moderated the debate between Westlund and Duffy.