Thomas P. Tiffany (born December 30, 1957) is an American businessman and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district since winning a special election in 2020. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served seven years in the Wisconsin Senate and two years in the State Assembly, representing the northeast region of the state.[1]

Early life and education

Tiffany was born in Wabasha, Minnesota, and grew up on a dairy farm near Elmwood, Pierce County, Wisconsin, with five brothers and two sisters.[2] He graduated from Elmwood High School in 1976 and earned his B.S. in agricultural economics from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls in 1980.[1]

Private career

Tiffany managed the petroleum division of a farm cooperative in Plainview, Minnesota, before moving to Minocqua, Wisconsin, to manage Zenker Oil Company’s petroleum distribution in 1988. He and his wife, Chris, have operated an excursion business on the Willow Flowage since 1991.[3]

Tiffany served as the Town Supervisor of Little Rice, Wisconsin, from 2009 to 2013, and is an appointed member of the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation. In 2004 and 2008, he ran to represent the 12th district in the Wisconsin State Senate, first against Senator Roger Breske, and then Jim Holperin, losing both times in close elections. In 2010, he ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly after incumbent Donald Friske retired. Tiffany won the primary and defeated Democratic nominee Jay Schmelling, 58.09% to 41.81%.[3]

In 2012, Tiffany chose not to seek reelection to the Assembly and instead to run again for the Senate after Holperin announced he would not run for reelection. He defeated Democrat Susan Sommer, 56% to 40%, in the general election.[3][4]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2020 special

Main article: 2020 Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district special election

Incumbent Representative Sean Duffy resigned on September 23, 2019, after his youngest daughter was diagnosed with a heart condition. Tiffany announced that he would run in a special election to succeed him. He won the February 18 Republican primary and defeated Wausau attorney Tricia Zunker in the May 12 special election.[5]

2020

See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin § District 7

Tiffany defeated Zunker in a rematch in the November 3 general election with 60.7% of the vote.

Tenure

Tiffany was sworn in on May 19, 2020.[6]

In December 2020, Tiffany was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated[7] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[8][9][10]

Tiffany was among the 120 House members, all Republicans, who objected to counting Arizona’s and Pennsylvania’s electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election.[11] Representative Scott L. Fitzgerald joined Tiffany in this objection.[12]

In June 2021, Tiffany was one of 14 House Republicans to vote against legislation to establish June 19, or Juneteenth, as a federal holiday.[13]

Political positions

Iraq

In June 2021, Tiffany was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the AUMF against Iraq.[14][15]

Syria

In 2023, Tiffany was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[16][17]

Russia

On March 19, 2024, Tiffany voted NAY to House Resolution 149 Condemning the illegal abduction and forcible transfer of children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. He was one of nine Republicans to do so.[18]

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Tiffany was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[19]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Personal life

Tiffany and his wife, Christine, have three children.[2]

Tiffany is Protestant.[23]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Senate (2004, 2008)

Wisconsin Senate, 12th District Election, 2004[24][25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Primary Election, September 14, 2004
RepublicanTom Tiffany 8,909 60.44%
RepublicanGary Baier2,99820.34%
RepublicanWilliam E. Raduege2,82819.19%
Scattering50.03%
Total votes14,740 100.0%
General Election, November 2, 2004
DemocraticRoger Breske (incumbent) 47,287 53.47%
RepublicanTom Tiffany41,11946.49%
Scattering380.04%
Plurality6,1686.97%
Total votes88,444 100.0%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Senate, 12th District Election, 2008[26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
General Election, November 4, 2008
DemocraticJim Holperin 85,125 66.11% +12.64%
RepublicanTom Tiffany43,59533.85%-12.64%
Scattering500.04%
Plurality41,53032.25%+25.28%
Total votes128,770 100.0% +45.59%
Democratic hold

Wisconsin Assembly (2010)

Wisconsin Assembly, 35th District Election, 2010[27][28]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Primary Election, September 14, 2010
RepublicanTom Tiffany 3,708 63.77%
RepublicanJeremy Cordova2,10736.23%
Scattering00.00%
Total votes5,815 100.0%
General Election, November 2, 2010
RepublicanTom Tiffany 11,830 58.09%
DemocraticJay Schmelling8,51541.81%
Scattering210.10%
Plurality3,31516.28%+2.79%
Total votes20,366 100.0%
Republican hold

Wisconsin Senate (2012, 2016)

Wisconsin Senate, 12th District Election, 2012[29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
General Election, November 6, 2012
RepublicanTom Tiffany 51,176 56.24% +22.39%
DemocraticSusan Sommer36,80940.45%-25.65%
IndependentPaul O. Ehlers2,9643.26%
Scattering450.05%
Plurality14,36715.79%-16.46%
Total votes90,994 100.0% -29.34%
Republican gain from Democratic

U.S. House of Representatives (2020)

Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district special election, 2020[30][31]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Primary Election, February 18, 2020
RepublicanTom Tiffany 43,714 57.44%
RepublicanJason Church32,33942.50%
RepublicanMichael Opela (write-in)180.02%
Scattering290.04%
Total votes76,100 100.0%
Special Election, May 12, 2020
RepublicanTom Tiffany 109,592 57.22% -2.89%
DemocraticTricia Zunker81,92842.78%+4.27%
Plurality27,66414.44%-7.16%
Total votes191,520 100.0% -40.68%
Republican hold
Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district, 2020[32]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanTom Tiffany (incumbent) 252,048 60.7
DemocraticTricia Zunker162,74139.2
Write-in2180.1
Total votes415,007 100.0
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ a b Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (2019). “Elected Officials: Legislature”. Wisconsin Blue Book 2019-2010 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-7333817-0-3. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  2. ^ a b “Biography”. Tom Tiffany for Assembly. Archived from the original on August 7, 2010 – via Wayback Machine.
  3. ^ a b c “Tom Tiffany will seek northern Senate post”. Antigo Daily Journal. March 29, 2012. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ Kirkby, Sean (November 7, 2012). “Republicans Take State Senate”. The Badger Herald. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  5. ^ Schulte, Laura (February 18, 2020). “Tricia Zunker and Tom Tiffany advance to May special election for Wisconsin 7th Congressional District”. Wausau Daily Herald. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  6. ^ Poltrock, Heather (May 19, 2020). “Tom Tiffany sworn in to U.S. House of Representatives”. WSAW. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  7. ^ Blood, Michael R.; Riccardi, Nicholas (December 5, 2020). “Biden officially secures enough electors to become president”. AP News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  8. ^ Liptak, Adam (2020-12-11). “Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  9. ^ “Order in Pending Case” (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. 2020-12-11. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  10. ^ Diaz, Daniella. “Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court”. CNN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  11. ^ Chang, Alvin (January 7, 2021). “The long list of Republicans who voted to reject election results”. The Guardian. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  12. ^ Bauer, Scott (January 7, 2021). “GOP Reps. Tiffany, Fitzgerald object to certifying Biden win”. AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  13. ^ Grayer, Annie; Diaz, Danielle (June 16, 2021). “Congress passes bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday”. CNN. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  14. ^ “House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq War authorization”. NBC News. 17 June 2021.
  15. ^ “Final vote results for roll call 172”. clerk.house.gov. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  16. ^ “H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … — House Vote #136 — Mar 8, 2023”. March 8, 2023.
  17. ^ “House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria”. Associated Press. March 8, 2023.
  18. ^ Metzger, Bryan (2024-03-19). “These 9 House Republicans voted against a resolution condemning the Russian abduction of Ukrainian children”. businessinsider.com.
  19. ^ Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). “Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no”. The Hill. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  20. ^ a b c d e “Committees and Caucuses”. Representative Tom Tiffany. 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  21. ^ “Membership”. Republican Study Committee. 2017-12-06. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  22. ^ Bowman, Bridget (February 11, 2020), Outside groups flock to Wisconsin race to replace Sean Duffy, Roll Call
  23. ^ Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress (PDF) (Report). Pew Research Center. 2023-01-03. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  24. ^ Results of Fall Primary Election – 09/14/2004 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 10, 2004. p. 14. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  25. ^ Results of Fall General Election – 11/02/2004 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 1, 2004. p. 8. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  26. ^ Fall General Election – 11/04/2008 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 24, 2008. p. 6. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  27. ^ 2010 Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. October 4, 2010. p. 5. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  28. ^ 2010 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 1, 2010. pp. 17–18. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  29. ^ Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election – 11/6/2012 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 26, 2012. p. 5. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  30. ^ Canvass Results for 2020 Spring Primary – 2/18/2020 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. March 3, 2020. p. 1. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  31. ^ Schulte, Laura; Stringer, Megan (May 12, 2020). “7th Congressional District: Republican Tom Tiffany wins seat held by former Rep. Sean Duffy, beating out Tricia Zunker”. Wausau Daily Herald. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  32. ^ “Canvass Results for 2020 General Election” (PDF). Wisconsin Elections Commission. Retrieved December 2, 2020.

External links

Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by

 Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 35th district
2011–2013		Succeeded by

Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by

 Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 12th district
2013–2020		Succeeded by

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by

 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district
2020-present		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by

 United States representatives by seniority
290th		Succeeded by


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Tiffany