Sean Duffy Won’t Challenge Tammy Baldwin For Senate In 2018

U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy won’t make a run for the Senate in 2018, he announced Thursday morning. The Republican from Wisconsin’s 7th District had been seen as one of the party’s top prospects to challenge Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin next year.

In a statement, Duffy said that now, “is not the right time for me to run for Senate,” but didn’t rule out a potential future bid. He also vowed to help whoever Republicans tap to run against Baldwin, who is currently serving her first term.

From Duffy’s statement:

“We have eight great kids and family always comes first. Baldwin will be beat because her radically liberal Madison record and ideas are out of synch with Wisconsin. I look forward to helping our Republican nominee defeat her. I’ll continue to work my heart out for the families of the 7th district, and I’m excited about the great things we will accomplish with our united Republican government.”

Duffy’s announcement leaves things wide open on the GOP side in what’s seen as a potentially competitive race.

Prospective candidates include state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau; state Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield; and state Rep. Dale Kooyenga, R-Brookfield.

Fitzgerald told reporters last week Duffy was “driving the train” in regard to the GOP candidate field. On Thursday, Fitzgerald tweeted Duffy’s decision to bow out was a “difficult” one, but made no other public comments about his own intent to run.

Vukmir, who also tweeted about Duffy on Thursday, confirmed her interest in running to the Wisconsin State Journal.

Kooyenga said he won’t make a final decision about entering the race until after the state budget is complete.

“What people deserve when they elect someone to office is to have that person work really hard at the task at hand, and right now I have a $75 billion budget that’s before us,” Kooyenga said. “Whoever ends up being the Republican nominee, I think you’re going to have someone who has got things done in the private sector, got things done in the military, got things done legislatively, or all three.”

Milwaukee businessman and Marine veteran Kevin Nicholson has also been mentioned as a possible Republican contender.

“My family and I are strongly considering a run for U.S. Senate against Tammy Baldwin,” Nicholson said in a statement. “Here in Wisconsin, we’ve had too many years of career politician Tammy Baldwin. I’m an outsider, and I know firsthand the challenges facing Wisconsin families and the sacrifices made by those who help keep us safe.”

Madison businessman Eric Hovde, who lost the 2012 Republican Senate primary to former Gov. Tommy Thompson by about 3 percent of the vote, is also considered to be a potential candidate for the Wisconsin GOP.

Rumors about Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke joining race have also surfaced in recent weeks. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, some out-of-state groups have been fundraising on a potential run by Clarke.

Editor’s note: This story was last updated at 4:45 p.m. on Feb. 16, 2017.