US House seat up for grabs in Wisconsin special congressional election

Voters in western Wisconsin are heading to the polls Tuesday for a special election.

Tuesday’s election is in the 7th District, a swatch of northwest Wisconsin, and follows a chaotic primary that went on after a legal battle.

Some polling places were cut as poll workers stayed home to avoid COVID-19, forcing many to wait in long times to vote. The National Guard was called in to assist and will be on hand again Tuesday.

The Hudson city clerk said voters could expect the same measures—stations for hand washing, easy access to cleaning supplies and social distancing cues—to be in place Tuesday.

Handwashing stations set up in Hudson ahead of Tuesday’s special congressional election

With just one race, election officials said more than 25% of eligible voters in the 7th District have already asked for absentee ballots.

Republican state Sen. Tom Tiffany—a state senator closely aligned with President Donald Trump—faces Democrat Tricia Zunker, the Wausau School Board chair, who is seeking to become the first Native American elected to Congress from the state.

The winner will replace Republican Sean Duffy, a former star on MTV’s “Real World” who held the seat since 2011 and remains a vocal Trump backer.

The federal response to COVID-19 has taken center stage in the race.

"I was very concerned to hear that small business loans were not going to small business they were intended to go for, so we need to make sure the funding actually goes to the people it’s supposed to," Zunker said.

Meanwhile, Tiffany said, "We need to restore people’s freedom, and be able to get these businesses back up on their feet and allow them to open up."

Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday.

KSTP’s complete Vote 2020 coverage

The Associated Press contributed to this report.