History of Sean Duffy in Timeline

Sean Patrick Duffy is an American politician and attorney. He is the current U.S. Secretary of Transportation, serving since January 2025, and the acting administrator of NASA since July 2025. A Republican, he previously represented Wisconsin's 7th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. Prior to his congressional service, Duffy was the District Attorney of Ashland County, Wisconsin, from 2002 to 2010.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1969: Dave Obey as Representative

In 1969, Dave Obey started his service as the United States representative for Wisconsin's seventh congressional district, which Sean Duffy later considered challenging.

October 3, 1971: Sean Duffy's Birth

On October 3, 1971, Sean Patrick Duffy was born. He later became an American politician, attorney, and former television presenter.

Others born on this day/year

1993: Tree Climbing Title

In 1993, Sean Duffy won a tree climbing title at the Mississippi River Log Boom.

1994: Graduation from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

In 1994, Sean Duffy graduated from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota with a B.A. degree in marketing.

1994: World Champion Speed Climber

In 1994, Sean Duffy was the world champion speed climber at the Lumberjack World Championship.

June 1997: Top American Lumberjack

By June 1997, The New York Times Magazine considered Sean Duffy one of the top American lumberjacks.

1997: Appearance on The Real World: Boston

In 1997, Sean Duffy appeared on "The Real World: Boston".

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1998: Filming for Road Rules: All Stars

In 1998, Sean Duffy began filming for "Road Rules: All Stars".

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April 1999: Marriage to Rachel Campos

In April 1999, Sean Duffy married Rachel Campos at the Newman Center at Arizona State University.

1999: Graduation from William Mitchell College of Law

In 1999, Sean Duffy graduated from the William Mitchell College of Law with a J.D. degree.

1999: Graduation from Law School

In 1999, Sean Duffy graduated from the William Mitchell College of Law.

2000: Competed in Great Outdoor Games

In 2000, Sean Duffy competed in the Great Outdoor Games's competitions for log rolling and speed climbing.

2001: Competed in Great Outdoor Games

In 2001, Sean Duffy competed in the Great Outdoor Games's competitions for log rolling.

June 2002: Appointment as District Attorney

In June 2002, Sean Duffy was appointed as the district attorney of Ashland County following Michael Gableman's resignation.

2002: Winner of Real World/Road Rules Challenge

In 2002, Sean Duffy appeared in and won "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Seasons".

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2002: District Attorney of Ashland County

In 2002, Sean Duffy became the District Attorney of Ashland County.

2002: Appointment as District Attorney

In 2002, Sean Duffy was appointed as the district attorney of Ashland County by Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum.

June 2003: Considering Challenge to Dave Obey

In June 2003, Sean Duffy considered challenging representative Dave Obey in the 2004 election.

2003: Commentator for Great Outdoor Games

In 2003, Sean Duffy was named as a commentator for the Great Outdoor Games.

February 2004: Declined to Challenge Obey

In February 2004, Sean Duffy declined to challenge Dave Obey, citing his wife's pregnancy.

2004: Wisconsin Delegate

In 2004, Sean Duffy served as a Wisconsin delegate in the Republican National Convention and the presidential election.

2004: Honorary Athlete for Badger State Winter Games

In 2004, Sean Duffy was named as the honorary athlete for the Badger State Winter Games.

May 2005: Candidate for United States Attorney

In May 2005, Sean Duffy was forwarded as one of four candidates to succeed J. B. Van Hollen as the United States attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.

2005: Competed in Great Outdoor Games

In 2005, Sean Duffy competed in the speed climbing competition for the Great Outdoor Games. He was also a commentator for the mixed doubles Boom Run.

2006: Re-elected as District Attorney

In 2006, Sean Duffy was re-elected as District Attorney.

2006: Nephew Drafted to NHL

In 2006, Sean Duffy's nephew, Erik Johnson, was the first overall pick in the NHL entry draft.

2008: Re-elected as District Attorney

In 2008, Sean Duffy was re-elected as District Attorney.

July 2009: Announcement to Challenge Dave Obey

In July 2009, Sean Duffy announced his intention to challenge Democratic U.S. representative Dave Obey.

July 2009: Indication to Run for Representative

In July 2009, Sean Duffy indicated he would run for representative.

January 2010: Campaign Hit US$300,000

In January 2010, Duffy's campaign hit US$300,000, setting a record and making the campaign eligible for the National Republican Congressional Committee's Young Guns program.

May 2010: Obey Announced Retirement

In May 2010, Dave Obey announced that he would not be running for re-election, leading to the Duffy campaign being promoted within the Young Guns program.

2010: End of term as District Attorney of Ashland County

In 2010, Sean Duffy completed his term as the district attorney of Ashland County.

2010: Announcement to Challenge Obey

In 2010, Sean Duffy formally announced that he would challenge Dave Obey in the election.

2010: Election to Congress

In 2010, Sean Duffy was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district.

2010: End of term as District Attorney

In 2010, Sean Duffy's service as the District Attorney of Ashland County concluded.

June 2011: Wisconsin State Assembly Approved Congressional Map

In June 2011, the Wisconsin State Assembly approved a congressional map that would politically benefit Sean Duffy, with the intention of securing his seat.

July 2011: Proposed Oversight Panel Bill

In July 2011, Sean Duffy proposed a bill to install a five-member oversight panel to control the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

2011: U.S. Representative for Wisconsin

In 2011, Sean Duffy began serving as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district.

2012: Spoke at Republican National Convention

In 2012, Sean Duffy spoke at the Republican National Convention.

2012: Re-elected to Congress

In 2012, Sean Duffy was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

November 2014: Chairman of Financial Services Subcommittee

In November 2014, Sean Duffy was named as the chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

2014: Re-elected to Congress

In 2014, Sean Duffy was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

October 2015: Named to House Select Investigative Panel

In October 2015, Sean Duffy was named to the House Select Investigative Panel on Planned Parenthood.

April 2016: Introduced Puerto Rico Oversight Act

In April 2016, Sean Duffy introduced the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act to address the Puerto Rican government-debt crisis.

2016: Re-elected to Congress

In 2016, Sean Duffy was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

2017: Started Plaidcast

In 2017, Sean Duffy started Plaidcast podcast.

2018: Re-elected to Congress

In 2018, Sean Duffy was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

January 2019: Proposed Bill to Expand Tariff Authority

In January 2019, Sean Duffy proposed a bill that would have expanded presidential tariff authority.

August 26, 2019: Announcement of Resignation

On August 26, 2019, Sean Duffy announced his resignation from Congress due to complications involving his ninth child.

September 2019: Resignation from Congress

In September 2019, Sean Duffy resigned from Congress due to his newborn daughter's health complications.

October 2019: Hired as CNN Contributor

In October 2019, CNN hired Sean Duffy as a paid contributor.

2019: End of term as U.S. Representative

In 2019, Sean Duffy's service as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district concluded.

2020: Spoke at Republican National Convention

In 2020, Sean Duffy spoke at the Republican National Convention.

August 2021: Purchased Home in Far Hills

In August 2021, the Duffys purchased a home in Far Hills, New Jersey.

December 2021: Co-authored "All American Christmas"

In December 2021, Duffy co-authored the book "All American Christmas" with his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy.

All American Christmas: A Holiday Story Collection

Check it on Amazon

2021: Podcast with Rachel Campos-Duffy

In 2021, Sean Duffy and his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, began a podcast, "From the Kitchen Table: The Duffys".

2023: Co-hosting "The Bottom Line"

In 2023, Sean Duffy began co-hosting "The Bottom Line" on Fox Business with Dagen McDowell.

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November 2024: Nomination for U.S. Secretary of Transportation

In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Sean Duffy for U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

November 18, 2024: Nomination Announced

On November 18, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Sean Duffy for U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

2024: End of podcast From the Kitchen Table: The Duffys

In 2024, Sean Duffy and his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, concluded the podcast "From the Kitchen Table: The Duffys".

January 2025: Appointed U.S. Secretary of Transportation

In January 2025, Sean Duffy began serving as the 20th U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

January 28, 2025: Confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Transportation

On January 28, 2025, Sean Duffy was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

February 2025: Purchased Home in Washington, D.C.

In February 2025, the Duffys purchased a second home in Washington, D.C.

June 2025: Calls for free trade in aerospace at Paris Air Show

In June 2025, at the Paris Air Show, Duffy advocated for free trade within the aerospace industry.

July 1, 2025: Directs governors to remove non-standard road markings

On July 1, 2025, Duffy instructed state governors to eliminate non-standard and distracting road markings from roadways, intersections, and crosswalks, citing safety concerns and preventing the use of road markings for political or artistic purposes, acting under the Federal Highway Administration's "SAFE ROADS" initiative.