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The American dream that his grandparents, two Cubans who fled communism, once pursued now drives 25-year-old Michael Alfonso to seek a seat in the United States Congress.
The announcement of his candidacy, which has generated headlines in U.S. media such as Fox News, Dryden Wire, and The Daily Reporter, combines politics, family memory, and a narrative shaped by the trauma of Cuban exile.
Alfonso, described as a "pro-Trump conservative," launched his campaign to represent Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District, a rural and predominantly Republican area.
According to Fox News, his decision is driven by the commitment to "put families, communities, and the United States first," as well as the emotional weight of his grandparents' story, who "fled communist Cuba in search of freedom."
"The decision of my grandparents should not be in vain."
In statements reported by Dryden Wire, Alfonso insists that his campaign is also a way to honor that generation of Cubans marked by uprooting:
"My grandparents' decision to flee communist Cuba to secure a better life for our family should not be in vain. (...) I will fight every day to ensure that Wisconsin, and this nation, continue to provide us with the freedoms and opportunities that my grandparents sought here."
The young politician has not hesitated to use images of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara in his launch video, warning about what he sees as the dangers of "socialism" for American youth.
In the same video, he contrasts Cuban figures with progressive politicians like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, arguing that when young people “cannot progress,” they end up listening to “the lies of socialism.”
The young man not only emphasizes his Cuban heritage but also his work experience. He paid for his studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison by working long hours in construction. “10 hours a day building houses, paving roads, and mixing concrete,” he said.
Now, their electoral platform combines the usual themes of rural conservatism—cost of living, taxes, farm protection—with a warning that freedom is fragile and must be defended.
A well-known surname in Republican politics
His candidacy is also backed by a strong political connection, as Alfonso is the son-in-law of Sean Duffy, the Secretary of Transportation in the Donald Trump administration and a former holder of the same district that Alfonso is now seeking to represent.
The 7th District became vacant after the current congressman, Tom Tiffany, announced his pursuit of the Republican nomination for governor in 2026, as reported by The Daily Reporter.
Alfonso will compete in the primaries against two other Republicans, businessman Paul Wassgren and public relations specialist Jessi Ebben. On the Democratic side, candidacies have already been announced, including that of former assemblyman Fred Clark.
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