GOP Rep. Sean Duffy resigning from Congress

Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) announced on Monday that he is resigning from Congress after being elected to his fifth term in 2018.

“After eight and a half years, the time has come for me to focus more on the reason we fight these battles — family,” Duffy said in a Facebook post.

{mosads}Duffy — who was first elected to represent Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District during the Tea Party wave in 2010 — said he will leave his seat on Sept. 23 after finding out his ninth child has a heart condition.

“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. 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,” he said in his post.

“On September 23, I will step down and allow others to step forward to begin laying out their own vision and plans for leading this beautiful district and the most honest, hard-working, family-oriented, patriotic, and God-fearing constituents in America.”

Duffy serves on the powerful House Financial Services Committee.

His Wisconsin district has traditionally been a Republican stronghold, with President Trump winning it by 21 points in 2016. Duffy beat his opponent by 22 points during the midterm election cycle.

Prior to his time in Congress, Duffy served as a district attorney for eight years, competed in lumberjack competitions and starred on a season of MTV’s “The Real World.”

“Sean Duffy is right to put his family first during this tough time and Jacquie and I will keep them in our prayers,” Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement.

“This district is a Republican stronghold, and whoever the socialist Democrats nominate will be forced to answer for their party’s radical agenda of open borders, socialized health care and a lust for impeaching President Trump.”

Politico first reported the news of his resignation.

–Updated at 1:38 p.m.