Sean Duffy’s career has taken him from the firehouse to the White House.
The star of The Real World: Boston, which was set in a converted firehouse, and competitor in Road Rules: All Stars and Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Seasons was nominated by President-Elect Donald Trump to serve as the next secretary of the Department of Transportation, CNN reported Monday.
“Thank you, Mr. President. I’m eager to help you usher in a new golden age of transportation,” the champion lumberjack posted to X in response to the nomination.
After leaving the reality TV world in the early 2000s, Sean entered the world of politics. He served as district attorney of Ashland County, Wisconsin, from 2002 to 2008, and was in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-2019. The Republican left congress when his wife, fellow ‘Real World’ star Rachel Campos-Duffy, was expecting the couple’s ninth child.
“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,” Sean shared at the time. “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.”
The two met while competing on ‘Road Rules: All Stars’ and married in 1999. Their eldest daughter, Evita Duffy-Alfonso, made her television debut on The Real World Reunion 2000 special.
“I think it’s amazing that I have the meeting between me and Rachel on TV, or on video, and most people don’t have that opportunity to look back and say, ‘Oh my God, that’s the moment that I met my wife,’” Sean said on the reunion special.
Sean, Rachel and Evita are Fox News regulars. Sean was a host on the Fox Business channel until this week, with the network announcing his departure the day the nomination was announced. Rachel is a host at Fox & Friends Weekend and has been joined by Evita, who is a conservative writer and podcaster. Her 2022 wedding was attended by ‘Real World’ stars Jon Brennan and Norman Korpi.
Sean isn’t the only reality TV star to enter politics, but may be the most successful. In response Sean’s nomination, Rolling Stone shared a brief list of MTV reality personalities who’ve entered the political arena, including ‘The Real World’ season one star Kevin Powell, who’s run unsuccessfully for Congress three times in New York. Other reality personalities who’ve tried their hands at politics include Caitlyn Jenner, who launched a failed gubernatorial bid in California, Jim Bob Duggar, who served four years in the Arkansas House of Representatives but lost races for seats in the Arkansas State Senate and U.S. Senate, and Jed Duggar, who also ran unsuccessfully for state office.
(Photos: Instagram; X)
10 Responses
Can not wait for Puck to release his tell all.
Thank you Ashley for reporting ALL reality news stories. This is an example of nonbias reporting.
Gross. He’s as qualified as Donald Dump
Sure Sean was on a reality show so I see the point of talking about him, but maybe talk about the insanely conservative, hurtful & hateful policies that he & his wife Rachel have supported, as well as supporting the trash human we call Trump. AND not to mention the fact that Fox News & all their divisive fake news, is one of the reasons that America is such a dumpster fire and why so many of us turn to “reality” tv and gossip, to escape what they have helped to create.
I agree!
That’s because you believe your propaganda is news. Ultimately, your misery is self created.
Also, there’s absolutely no difference at all between (s)elected Republicans and Democrats. They ALL sign the same policies. It’s only the messaging that’s different. Nothing else! (And we’re back to my first sentence.)
Sean was a well liked cast member and seemed like a good dude.
Good for him
He’s not “a good dude”. Read about the things he’s said and his politics.
@ the Ashley. I come here to get away from whats happening in the government. I know this story has relevance as he was a former Real World cast member, please consider those coming to this site for a reprieve. Have a wonderful weekend.
So the Ashley should pick and choose what news she reports because it bothers you? That’s a slippery slope. This is why the right calls us snowflakes. 🙄 It’s reality news. It’s what’s happening in our country. I personally want to know these things. Go bury your head in the sand somewhere else. This is why we have Orange Voldemort in office again. People got sick of everyone being triggered by everything. So, thanks for the next four years and being part of the problem. 👍
That doesn’t make him qualified for the job