Ethics and Industry Ties in Michael Alfonso’s Congressional Bid

Investigations reveal Michael Alfonso’s campaign is funded by transportation lobbyists and corporations regulated by his father-in-law, Transportation Secretary Duffy, raising significant ethical questions.

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Transportation issues are not amongst those concerns, but he still is obtaining assistance from General Motors, which consistently lobbies DOT on numerous problems, including gas economy, car safety and security and discharges standards, and various other mandates. The gigantic auto producer likewise offered to Duffy when he was running for the congressional seat, and the transportation assistant has actually become a booster. (GM did not reply to ProPublica’s request for comment.).

Throughout the very first Trump administration, Transport Secretary Elaine Chao made headings for showing up to give preferential therapy to Kentucky officials for millions of bucks in framework grants. At the time, Chao’s workplace refuted revealing any favoritism, claiming that Kentucky’s share was not out of the normal.

Absolutely nothing in regulation bars Duffy from campaigning for his son-in-law, so long as he deals with it on his individual time, does not utilize federal government sources and does not guarantee to take some main action in exchange for a contribution.

Lobbyist Influence on the Congressional Race

Alfonso’s project has actually drawn contributions from others in the greatly managed railway market. Duffy designated Bartek last July to offer on a DOT consultatory committee.

Alfonso’s project did not reply to requests from ProPublica for an interview or for remark. An agent for Duffy, Nathaniel Sizemore, gave a written declaration stating: “The Assistant participates in fundraising occasions in his individual capability. Governing decisions are guided by profession security specialists, the law, and the facts.”.

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Powerbroker disclosure records show that Miller lobbied the Transportation Division in 2025 on behalf of at the very least 9 firms, one New york city region and one Indigenous American tribe. The issues included airport signage policy, aviation allowing for the designer of a supersonic airliner and improvements in GPS technology. Miller reported advocating for Archer Aeronautics concerning electrical upright launch and touchdown aircraft modern technology, referred to as eVTOL– the basis for future flying cars and trucks.

And in 2012, under Head Of State Barack Obama, Farming Assistant Tom Vilsack, an Iowa Democrat, fielded questions regarding the splitting up between U.S. Department of Farming business and the project of his partner, Christie, that was competing Congress. Christie Vilsack told ProPublica in a meeting that the pair took care regarding seeing to it her husband was not associated with the campaign, besides to sustain her at some debates and on political election evening. He “never did any kind of fundraising whatsoever,” she stated.

On his project internet site, Alfonso notes a lots issues “that matter to us”– varying from education and learning and health care to migration. He wishes to “make families and farms strong,” “offer Gen Z a voice” and work against access to abortion.

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Financial Connections and Familial Advantages

Alfonso is making use of the exact same fundraising professional, Kirstin Hopkins, that Duffy used, Federal Election Payment records show. Furthermore, Alfonso has gotten help with advertisements and mailers from a super special-interest group, the Northwoods Future PAC, that is moneyed with $1 million from Duffy’s previous project board. Alfonso’s familial advantage has upset some Wisconsin Republicans that do not want the novice to slide into such an important position.

Alfonso graduated in 2022 from the College of Wisconsin with a math level. He relocated to Florida for a while to assist generate a prominent podcast hosted by Dan Bongino, a Trump advocate that later offered a brief stint as replacement supervisor of the FBI. (Bongino is back podcasting again.).

Through his own project board, Alfonso had elevated a little over $305,000 as of the end of 2025, the latest filing offered. By regulation, payments for each and every election are restricted to $3,500 from individuals and $5,000 from political action committees. Contributors can contribute to greater than one political election at the very same time, such as a primary race and a basic.

“Over 1,000 horse power,” Duffy stated in an advertising video clip, highlighting the vibrant features of the $200,000 supercar. “We’re mosting likely to take this poor boy on a little test drive to the Army-Navy game.” Off he went.

In New York, construction on the Hudson Tunnel Project to improve traveler rail solution pertained to a shrilling halt in very early February after the federal government removed funds. A court stepped in, purchasing the money launched, and work returned to. A bistate commission overseeing the job advised this month that it might face disruptions once more in upcoming months if federal disbursements do not proceed.

The $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project, under construction in between Manhattan and New Jacket, will enhance passenger rail service, a crucial concern for New york city City commuters. It would seem to have absolutely nothing to do with what’s happening in north Wisconsin.

Major Corporate Donors and Regulatory Conflicts

Others donating to Alfonso’s candidacy include political action boards for staff members of the armed forces jetmaker Lockheed Martin, which goes through FAA security laws and has rewarding federal government contracts, and for T-Mobile, which is working on a DOT job to boost the durability of essential 5G framework. Political action committees for unions and trade associations for hefty equipment operators, engineers, aerial services and the traveling sector have likewise joined in.

Alfonso’s donors include lobbyist Jeffrey Miller, a financing chair of Trump’s latest inaugural committee. In December, Miller and his company’s chief operating policeman donated independently to Alfonso, for a mixed $8,500. No one listing their firm, Miller Techniques, as an employer had given away to either Duffy or Tiffany in the past, according to FEC documents.

Brightline, T-Mobile and Lockheed Martin did not respond to ProPublica’s ask for comment. On its internet site, Lockheed notes that it abides by all suitable legislations and guidelines with regard to its political and public policy tasks.

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Bartek had actually never ever given to a candidate in the district prior to. In an interview, he stated he checked out a newspaper article about Alfonso’s campaign and made a decision to donate. “I like Secretary Duffy quite,” he said, “and I assumed extremely merely, kid, if he’s anything like his father-in-law, it would behave to sustain him as well.”.

A ProPublica analysis discovered that many of the Alfonso benefactors with transport passions had never offered to Duffy or Tiffany. While legal, such donations established the look that assisting Alfonso may help the benefactors with problems influenced by Duffy. (Politico has reported on a few of these contributions.).

Tak did not respond to ProPublica’s request for an interview but asked a long time good friend of his, Ann Murphy of Green Bay, who works as a specialist for him, to respond. Tak has a paper mill in Oconto Falls, north of Environment-friendly Bay. It is not in the 7th Congressional District. Murphy claimed Tak was going to the state and agreed, at her demand, to go to the charity event for Alfonso.

Ethical Concerns and Legal Realities

The contributions are among dozens to Alfonso’s project from lobbyists, organization execs and political action committees linked to markets– from rails and freeways to shipping and flight– that Duffy’s department funds and controls. His division likewise supervises the Federal Aviation Administration.

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Alfonso has stated that in an Oval Workplace conference after he chose to run for Congress, he pledged commitment to the president. “I guaranteed him that I would constantly be America initially, I would always defend his schedule and that no one would ever outwork me,” Alfonso told Mark Halperin, an additional podcaster.

An influential member of Trump’s Closet, Duffy has actually been openly assisting his son-in-law’s project. The notice for a November “greet and fulfill” with Alfonso in Wausau, Wisconsin, mentioned that Duffy would be a special visitor, as did an invitation for another December fundraiser.

In reaction to outreach from ProPublica, an executive at Venture Government Methods, whose powerbrokers for the tunnel project offered a combined $2,500 to Alfonso, claimed in an e-mail the business had no comment.

“We were extremely thrilled about Michael,” Murphy stated of Alfonso, likening him to Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point U.S.A. that motivated lots of youngsters prior to being eliminated in 2015. “And he does have the recommendation of Head of state Trump.”.

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“The legislation, as it stands, offers very little constraint,” claimed Daniel Weiner, director of the Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, a law and plan institute based in New York. “There’s a huge gulf between what is legal and what is ethical. Certainly, this increases numerous honest concerns.”.

The Political Landscape of Wisconsin’s 7th District

Duffy held the 7th Congressional Area seat for nearly a decade prior to surrendering in 2019. He was succeeded by Tom Tiffany, who is currently running for Wisconsin guv, leaving the seat open once again. Alfonso, 26, who has actually operated in building and podcasting, has actually been endorsed by Head of state Donald Trump.

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A ProPublica analysis found that several of the Alfonso contributors with transport passions had actually never ever offered to Duffy or Tiffany. While lawful, such contributions set up the appearance that aiding Alfonso may assist the contributors with concerns influenced by Duffy. Alfonso’s project did not react to requests from ProPublica for an interview or for comment. Alfonso is making use of the same fundraising professional, Kirstin Hopkins, that Duffy used, Federal Election Commission documents show. In enhancement, Alfonso has actually obtained aid with advertisements and mailers from an extremely Political action committee, the Northwoods Future Special-interest Group, that is moneyed with $1 million from Duffy’s previous campaign board.

The PAC for Brightline, a high-speed train service in Florida, additionally given away, providing $2,500 in December. Brightline trains have struck and eliminated more than 180 pedestrians or motorists at crossings since 2017, according to an investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN. Duffy promised at a legislative committee hearing in July to work to “drive down the number of fatalities.” In September, he introduced that his department would certainly distribute $42 million to boost safety and security along the line. In a declaration to the Florida news organizations, Brightline authorities blamed the deaths on suicides and the “reckless” habits of people that put themselves in injury’s method.

Industry Funding and Departmental Decisions

Market money has actually been putting into the legislative project of Michael Alfonso, a 26-year-old political unknown from Wisconsin. The prospect’s father-in-law takes place to be the united state secretary of transportation.

After the White Home iced up government give financing for the job in the autumn, citing issues concerning diversity and equity measures, lobbyists with a passion in the tunnel gave away $2,500 to a political beginner running in the Republican politician primary in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.

Previously this month, Duffy announced a first-of-its-kind FAA pilot program to evaluate eVTOL technology in eight demo jobs throughout 26 states. In a video clip coming with the announcement, Duffy spoke enthusiastically concerning the innovation, picturing “Ubers in the air” taking people from one airport terminal to the following and beyond.

The video clip, uploaded to the social media sites platform X, highlighted a traveling app the carmaker made in partnership with the Division of Transport, while additionally showcasing Chevrolet’s automotive series referred to as Stars and Steel.

The following month, the transportation assistant appeared at a project charity event for Alfonso at a hotel in Green Bay, near the storied Lambeau Area. The donors in attendance consisted of Sharad Tak of Bethesda, Maryland, the CEO of ST LNG, a business seeking a DOT-issued license to construct and run a deep-water port offshore of Matagorda, Texas, to load liquefied gas onto service providers.