Tom Tiffany | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2020 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromWisconsin's7th district | |
| Assumed office May 19, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Sean Duffy |
| Member of theWisconsin Senate from the12th district | |
| In office January 7, 2013 – May 18, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Holperin |
| Succeeded by | Mary Felzkowski |
| Member of theWisconsin State Assembly from the35th district | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Friske |
| Succeeded by | Mary Felzkowski |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1957-12-30)December 30, 1957 (age 67) Wabasha, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Christine Sully |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Wisconsin, River Falls (BS) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Thomas P. Tiffany (born December 30, 1957)[1] is an American businessman and politician serving as theU.S. representative forWisconsin's 7th congressional district since winning aspecial election in 2020. A member of theRepublican Party, he previously served seven years in theWisconsin Senate and two years in theState Assembly, representing the northeast region of the state.[2]
He is currently running for governor of Wisconsin in2026, having announced his intention to run in September 2025.[3]
Tiffany was born inWabasha, Minnesota, and grew up on a dairy farm nearElmwood,Pierce County, Wisconsin, with five brothers and two sisters.[4] He graduated fromElmwood High School in 1976 and earned hisB.S. inagricultural economics from theUniversity of Wisconsin–River Falls in 1980.[2]
Tiffany managed the petroleum division of a farm cooperative inPlainview, Minnesota, before moving toMinocqua, 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.[5]
Tiffany served as the Town Supervisor ofLittle 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 theWisconsin State Senate, first against SenatorRoger Breske, and thenJim Holperin, losing both times in close elections. In 2010, he ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly after incumbentDonald Friske retired. Tiffany won the primary and defeated Democratic nominee Jay Schmelling, 58.09% to 41.81%.[5]
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.[5][6]
Incumbent RepresentativeSean Duffy resigned on September 23, 2019, after his youngest daughter was diagnosed with a heart condition. Tiffany announced that he would run in aspecial election to succeed him. He won the February 18 Republican primary and defeatedWausau attorney Tricia Zunker in the May 12 special election.[7] Tiffany defeated Zunker in a rematch in the November 3 general election with 60.7% of the vote.
Tiffany was sworn in on May 19, 2020.[8]
In December 2020, Tiffany was one of 126 Republican members of theHouse of Representatives to sign anamicus brief in support ofTexas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at theUnited States Supreme Court contesting the results of the2020 presidential election, in whichJoe Biden defeated[9] incumbentDonald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lackedstanding underArticle III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[10][11][12]
Tiffany was among the 120 House members, allRepublicans, who objected to counting Arizona's and Pennsylvania'selectoral votes in the2020 presidential election.[13] RepresentativeScott L. Fitzgerald joined Tiffany in this objection.[14]
In June 2021, Tiffany was one of 14 House Republicans to vote against legislation to establish June 19, orJuneteenth, as a federal holiday.[15] The next day, Tiffany was one of 49 House Republicans who voted to repeal theAUMF againstIraq.[16][17]
Throughout his tenure, Tiffany has expressed support for recognition of theRepublic of China as a state. In 2023, Tiffany authored an op-ed in theWashington Times, stating that "the United States should lead by example and end this tired charade.”[18] Since being elected to the House, Tiffany has introduced legislation in every session to establish diplomatic relations withTaiwan.[19][20][21] In 2024, Tiffany introduced legislation expressing support for Taiwan's full participation at theWorld Health Organization, as well as legislation restricting the Department of State from using funds to enforce restrictions on "high-level communications" with Taiwanese officials. Both pieces of legislation were passed by Congress.[22][23]
In 2023, Tiffany was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed PresidentJoe Biden to remove U.S. troops fromSyria within 180 days.[24][25]
Tiffany was among 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of theFiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[26]
On March 19, 2024, Tiffany voted against a house resolution condemningRussia's abductions of Ukrainian children during theRusso-Ukrainian War. He was one of nine Republicans to do so.[27]
Following months of speculation, Tiffany announced a campaign for governor of Wisconsin in2026 on September 23, 2025.[3]
Tiffany and his wife, Christine, have three children.[4]
Tiffany isProtestant.[33]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Primary Election, September 14, 2004 | |||||
| Republican | Tom Tiffany | 8,909 | 60.44% | ||
| Republican | Gary Baier | 2,998 | 20.34% | ||
| Republican | William E. Raduege | 2,828 | 19.19% | ||
| Scattering | 5 | 0.03% | |||
| Total votes | 14,740 | 100.0% | |||
| General Election, November 2, 2004 | |||||
| Democratic | Roger Breske (incumbent) | 47,287 | 53.47% | ||
| Republican | Tom Tiffany | 41,119 | 46.49% | ||
| Scattering | 38 | 0.04% | |||
| Plurality | 6,168 | 6.97% | |||
| Total votes | 88,444 | 100.0% | |||
| Democratichold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 4, 2008 | |||||
| Democratic | Jim Holperin | 85,125 | 66.11% | +12.64% | |
| Republican | Tom Tiffany | 43,595 | 33.85% | −12.64% | |
| Scattering | 50 | 0.04% | |||
| Plurality | 41,530 | 32.25% | +25.28% | ||
| Total votes | 128,770 | 100.0% | +45.59% | ||
| Democratichold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Primary Election, September 14, 2010 | |||||
| Republican | Tom Tiffany | 3,708 | 63.77% | ||
| Republican | Jeremy Cordova | 2,107 | 36.23% | ||
| Scattering | 0 | 0.00% | |||
| Total votes | 5,815 | 100.0% | |||
| General Election, November 2, 2010 | |||||
| Republican | Tom Tiffany | 11,830 | 58.09% | ||
| Democratic | Jay Schmelling | 8,515 | 41.81% | ||
| Scattering | 21 | 0.10% | |||
| Plurality | 3,315 | 16.28% | +2.79% | ||
| Total votes | 20,366 | 100.0% | |||
| Republicanhold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 6, 2012 | |||||
| Republican | Tom Tiffany | 51,176 | 56.24% | +22.39% | |
| Democratic | Susan Sommer | 36,809 | 40.45% | −25.65% | |
| Independent | Paul O. Ehlers | 2,964 | 3.26% | ||
| Scattering | 45 | 0.05% | |||
| Plurality | 14,367 | 15.79% | -16.46% | ||
| Total votes | 90,994 | 100.0% | -29.34% | ||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican Primary Election, February 18, 2020 | |||||
| Republican | Tom Tiffany | 43,714 | 57.44% | ||
| Republican | Jason Church | 32,339 | 42.50% | ||
| Republican | Michael Opela(write-in) | 18 | 0.02% | ||
| Scattering | 29 | 0.04% | |||
| Total votes | 76,100 | 100.0% | |||
| Special Election, May 12, 2020 | |||||
| Republican | Tom Tiffany | 109,592 | 57.22% | −2.89% | |
| Democratic | Tricia Zunker | 81,928 | 42.78% | +4.27% | |
| Plurality | 27,664 | 14.44% | -7.16% | ||
| Total votes | 191,520 | 100.0% | -40.68% | ||
| Republicanhold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Tiffany (incumbent) | 252,048 | 60.7 | |
| Democratic | Tricia Zunker | 162,741 | 39.2 | |
| Write-in | 218 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 415,007 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Tiffany (incumbent) | 209,224 | 61.8 | |
| Democratic | Richard Ausman | 128,877 | 38.1 | |
| Write-in | 167 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 338,268 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Tiffany (incumbent) | 273,553 | 63.6 | |
| Democratic | Kyle Kilbourn | 156,524 | 36.4 | |
| Write-in | 307 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 430,384 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromWisconsin's 7th congressional district 2020–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 240th | Succeeded by |
