7th CD candidate Jessi Ebben criticized GOP rival Michael Alfonso for relying on family ties and transportation industry dollars.

Alfonso was not among the three GOP candidates who appeared at the April 22 candidate forum in Mercer, hosted by the Iron County Republican Party. Moderator Bruce Marcus pressed “always-Trumpers” Ebben and Kevin Hermening on why they remained in the race after President Donald Trump had endorsed Alfonso. 

“I don’t think the district – I’ve heard it directly – appreciates nepotism, appreciates a rolled-out carpet, appreciates a candidate funded by the swamp, specifically by transportation dollars,” said Ebben, a director at Ashley Furniture. 

Hermening deflected. The financial adviser and former Marathon County GOP chair noted he had not formally announced his candidacy at the time of Trump’s endorsement. 

Alfonso is the son-in-law of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who previously represented the 7th CD.

His campaign has received tens of thousands of dollars in support from individuals and PACs associated with the transportation industry, including contributions from the CEO of Florida intercity rail operator Brightline and committees for Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, the American Council of Engineering Companies and the International Union of Operating Engineers.

The 26-year-old congressional candidate spent his evening at a Washington, D.C., fundraiser for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, posing for photos with several members of Wisconsin’s GOP delegation, including current 7th CD U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany of Minocqua. 

Alfonso, who has been criticized by his opponents for not doing local forums, earlier this week proposed a televised debate in the primary, but not until just before early voting begins ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.

Last night’s forum in the race came after businessman and attorney Paul Wassgren dropped out of the GOP primary to succeed Tiffany in the northern Wisconsin district.

Hermening and Ebben reiterated their support for Trump throughout the evening, declining to criticize the president’s derogatory remarks about women, the late FBI director Robert Mueller or filmmaker Rob Reiner. They also backed Trump’s handling of immigration enforcement and the Iran war. 

Niina Baum, who runs a digital marketing firm for rural businesses and has presented herself as the moderate option in the race, was more willing to break from the party line.

She said there “shouldn’t be mistakes happening” with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, adding the current immigration system did not offer enough migrants a viable pathway to citizenship. She also said Trump should have sought Congress’ input before going to war with Iran. Baum said both parties “had been pretty fiscally irresponsible lately” after Marcus cast blame on Democrats for high federal spending. 

Asked about Trump’s preference for “loyalty” among Republicans, Baum responded, “My loyalty is to the people in the district, not anybody else.”

Asked for the biggest issue facing the 7th CD, Baum said data centers; Hermening and Ebben both cited affordability issues.