Voters will go to the polls Jan. 27 to fill the seat of outgoing U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy — a rare Monday election — under an executive order Gov. Tony Evers issued today.

The expected primary will be Dec. 30.

Under state law, the earliest Evers could’ve called the special election is Jan. 21. But that would’ve meant a primary on Christmas Eve. State law also precludes a special election between Feb. 1 and April 7 unless it aligns with the regularly scheduled spring election.

The guv’s office said it didn’t want to wait until then, because that would mean residents in the 7th CD would be without a representative in the House for six months. Under Evers’ order, the vacancy will last a little more than four months.

Evers’ decision to call the special election for Jan. 27 rather than the Tuesday that week also avoids having a primary on Dec. 31. State law requires a primary, if needed, to be four weeks before the special election.

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