Tom Tiffany

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.

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. 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.

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.

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%.

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.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2020 special

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.

2020

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.

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 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.

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. Representative Scott L. Fitzgerald joined Tiffany in this objection.

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

Political positions

Foreign policy

Iraq

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

Taiwan

Tiffany has expressed support for recognition of the Republic of China as a state. In 2023, Tiffany authored an op-ed in the Washington Times, stating that "the United States should lead by example and end this tired charade.” Since being elected to the House, Tiffany has introduced legislation in every session to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

In 2024, Tiffany introduced legislation expressing support for Taiwan's full participation at the World 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.

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.

Russia

On March 19, 2024, Tiffany voted against a house resolution condemning Russia's abductions of Ukrainian children during the Russo-Ukrainian War. He was one of nine Republicans to do so.

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.

Marijuana

Tom Tiffany has an "F" rating from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes.