Who is Sean Duffy? Transportation secretary nominee met wife on 'Real World'
President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Sean Duffy has had a prolific political career as a Wisconsin congressman and district attorney. But long before his Cabinet nomination, he was a reality star, much like his boss.
Duffy, 53, began his television career on MTV's "The Real World: Boston" during its sixth season while earning a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. The popular series followed a group of diverse young people as they attempted to live together over a period of six months.
The show was not Duffy's only appearance on reality television. Here’s what you need to know about the reality TV- personality-turned-politician.
Which reality TV shows was Sean Duffy on?
Duffy was a cast member of a couple of MTV shows, including "The Real World: Boston," "Road Rules: All Stars" and "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Seasons" between 1997 and 2002. An archived MTV biography of the show’s cast describes Duffy as a “typical Midwestern boy” and a lumberjack sports champion from Hayward, Wisconsin.
In 2003, Duffy competed in ESPN's "Great Outdoor Games" in 2003 and later joined Fox News, first as a contributor in 2020 and then as co-host of the Fox Business program in 2022.
Prior to his nomination, Duffy was a co-host of "The Bottom Line" on Fox Business.
Sean Duffy family, kids
Duffy is married to Fox News television host Rachel Campos-Duffy, with whom he shares nine children. The two met while filming for "The Real World," in which she also appeared, and tied the knot in 1998.
During his confirmation meeting on Wednesday, Duffy introduced his family to the committee, saying: “I would take a moment I'd like to introduce my family − my wife, Rachel and nine children. Rachel and I met on a reality TV show. Kind of unique, not most people have that."
"We've been married for 25 years. Rachel is the love of my life. She's my best friend," he added.
He also introduced his 5-year-old daughter, Valentina. In 2019, he resigned from Congress a few months before she was born, announcing he had learned she was facing health complications, including a heart condition, and he wanted to support his family during this time.
“She, no doubt, is our family's favorite,” he said. “She was hugging Senator Baldwin on the way in, showing great bipartisan love."
In his statement, Duffy said he thinks "a lot about transportation, especially safety,” as a father of nine.
“My son, John-Paul, drives his younger siblings to school every day — a car full of precious cargo," Duffy said. "Whether driving, flying, or traveling by train, no federal agency impacts Americans’ daily lives and their loved ones more than the Department of Transportation. I am honored to have the trust of President Trump, and hopefully this body, to lead such an important segment of our economy.”
Sean Duffy's political career
Duffy previously served as a congressman for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district in the northwest part of the state from 2011 to 2019, overlapping with the bulk of Trump's presidency. During his congressional tenure, Duffy was a member of the House Financial Services Committee.
Duffy also served as district attorney in Ashland County, Wisconsin in 2002 and has a penchant for outdoor activities, including log rolling and speed climbing, which he began at a young age. Duffy holds two speed-climbing titles.
What did Trump say about Duffy?
Trump referred to Duffy as "a tremendous and well-liked public servant" who will make "our skies safe again by eliminating DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) for pilots and air traffic controllers."
"Sean will use his experience and the relationships he has built over many years in Congress to maintain and rebuild our Nation’s Infrastructure and fulfill our Mission of ushering in The Golden Age of Travel, focusing on Safety, Efficiency, and Innovation," Trump said on Truth Social about choosing Duffy. "Importantly, he will greatly elevate the Travel Experience for all Americans!"
This story was updated to add more photos.
Contributing: Joey Garrison, Paste BN and Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.