Yet another Republican member of Congress has announced that they will be resigning their seat and forgoing a run for re-election in 2020, yet by all appearances, this departure has nothing to do with a dislike of President Donald Trump or an attempt to avoid accountability for some yet-to-be-publicized scandal.
Rather, Republican Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy has decided to step away from Congress in order to devote his time and attention to his family as he and his wife are awaiting the birth of a baby girl with a serious heart condition.
Rep. Sean Duffy to resign from Congress
Monday’s unexpected announcement came by way of a Facebook post aimed at the congressman’s constituents in Wisconsin’s 7th District, a solidly red region in the northern part of the state in which Duffy most recently won re-election by a 22-point margin and which also went for Trump in 2016 by a 21-point margin.
Duffy was first elected to Congress as part of the tea party-led Republican wave election in 2010, and the conservative congressman has served well in his role since that time.
However, with a new baby on the way who will require extra attention and care due to a medical condition, Duffy says that his presence is needed more at home than in Washington, D.C., at least for the time being. As such, Duffy set September 23 as his last day of service in Congress.
Time for family
In his Facebook post, Duffy made clear that serving his constituents has been his highest honor in life, second only to marrying his wife Rachel Campos-Duffy and raising a family with her.
“As you all know, raising a family is hard work. It’s especially true for one as large and busy as mine,” Duffy wrote. “Being away from home in Washington four days a week is challenging and for that reason, I have always been open to signs from God when it comes to balancing my desire to serve both my family and my country.”
“Recently, we’ve learned that our baby, due in late October, will need even more love, time, and attention due to complications, including a heart condition,” he continued. “With much prayer, I have decided that this is the right time for me to take a break from public service in order to be the support my wife, baby and family need right now.”
“It is not an easy decision — because I truly love being your Congressman — but it is the right decision for my family, which is my first love and responsibility,” Duffy wrote.
Grateful public servant
The congressman noted that he would “step down” on Sept. 23 and allow someone else to represent the district, and wrote, “I will be forever grateful for and humbled by the faith and sacred trust you have put in me all these years.”
“I am especially grateful for the prayers said on behalf of our family. We hope they keep coming!” Duffy added. “I will miss being your Congressman, but I am also looking forward to having more time with my family, being home for more birthdays and hockey games, and having time to enjoy and care for our new baby girl, who is already so loved by our family.”
Rep. Duffy will no doubt be missed, but his reasons for placing his political career on hold are admirable and telling of the sort of man he is, and few could knock him for that. Hopefully, all goes well with the newest addition to the Duffy family, and the congressman is eventually able to resume his career in politics as a conservative with strong family values and a vision for America’s future.