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Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wausau, speaks at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. in 2012.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK)

The Republican race to challenge U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin in 2018 was thrown wide open Thursday when U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy of Wausau announced he would not run againstthe first-term Democrat.

After much prayer and deliberation, Rachel and I have decided that this is not the right time for me to run for Senate," Duffy said in a statement. "We have eight great kids and family always comes first."

"Baldwin will be beat because her radically liberal Madison record and ideas are out of syncwith Wisconsin," Duffy said. "I look forward to helping our Republican nominee defeat her. Ill continue to work my heart out for the families of the 7th District, and Im excited about the great things we will accomplish with our united Republican government.

With his early support of President Donald Trump and formidable fundraising skills, Duffy was viewed by many in the Republican Party as the front-runner to take on Baldwin.

By quickly announcing his decision to skip the race, Duffy leaves plenty of time and space for others to gather support from activists andmajor donors.

Dan Bice and Mary Spicuzza discuss possible reasons that Duffy doesnt want to take on Tammy Baldwin and where that leaves the Republicans.

The list of potential candidates includes Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, Madison businessman Eric Hovde, state Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield), state Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield) and Marine veteran and Milwaukee-area businessman Kevin Nicholson.

The state Democratic Party appeared to relish the prospect of GOP infighting.

"With out-of-state money piling up to support tea party darling David Clarke, legislators across the state preparing to run, and their top candidate dropping out, the Republican establishment in Washington is scrambling to avoid a divisive, messy Republican primary in Wisconsin," state Democrats said in a statement. "No matter what circus emerges, Tammy Baldwin will continue to stand up to the powerful interests in Washington and fight for a Wisconsin economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top."

Party spokeswoman Gillian Drummond was referring to Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr., who has not indicated an interest in the race.Journal Sentinel columnist Dan Bice reported Thursdaythat four out-of-state groups are raising money to draft the outspoken conservative Clarke to run against Baldwin.

Fitzgerald is a key power broker in Madison and burnished his credentials among the party's grassroots with his early backing of Trump and his critical support in 2015 for so-called right-to-work legislation, which ended the practice of private sectorworkers being required to pay union fees as a condition of employment.

Fitzgerald didn't agree to interviews Thursday or say whether he wouldrun, though he did tweet about Duffy's decision: "I know this was a difficult decision by@RepSeanDuffyand am confident Wisconsin will continue to benefit from his leadership in@HouseGOP."

Hovde put up a strong challenge in 2012 when he finished second to former Gov. Tommy Thompson in a GOP Senate primary. He has the deepest pockets in the potential field and could kick-start his campaign by self-funding. Hovde praised Duffy: "He's a good man. Iam sure he made the decision based upon all the factors in the race and what's best for his family."

Kooyenga and Vukmir are conservative legislators who had skilled jobs outside of politics and whoare popular with the GOP base in southeastern Wisconsin. Vukmir is a registered nurse who worked for years as a pediatric nurse practitioner and who still teaches classes. She's a board member of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a group that works with lawmakers and corporations to promote conservative legislation in statehouses around the country.

Vukmir said she was already considering a primary run against Duffy but doesn't have a timeline to decide whether to do so. To run for U.S. Senate, she would have to give up the state Senate seat where she hasworked on health and education issues.

"I have been strongly considering a run for some time," Vukmir said. "Wisconsin needs a consistently strong Republican voice who has a track record of delivering, and I have that."

Kooyenga, a certified public accountant and veteran of the Iraq War as a U.S. Army Reserve member, said hes been asked by people about running for the U.S. Senate.

Itd definitely be after the budget, Kooyenga said of any Senate race decision.

Waiting also gives Kooyenga theadvantage of seeing whether there's a chance to run for Vukmirs state Senate seat.

Nicholson has been quietly making the rounds to gather support. A former national president of the College Democrats of America, he served as a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a principal at a management consulting firm.

He still will need to introduce himself to Wisconsinites his Twitter account, for example, had fewerthan 100 followers as of Thursday afternoon.

"My family and I are strongly considering a run for U.S. Senate against Tammy Baldwin," Nicholson said in a statement. "Here in Wisconsin, we've had years and years of career politicians like Tammy Baldwin. I'm an outsider and I know firsthand the challenges facing Wisconsin families, and the sacrifices made by those who help keep us safe."

Republicans are now girding for a primary battle.

"There are strong potential candidates ready to draw a sharp contrast with SenatorBaldwin, who is out of touch with Wisconsin values and in big trouble as a result," Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesman Alec Zimmerman said in a statement.

"After 20 years of talk in Washington, it's not clear what she's done but protect the Washington status quo and reject real reform for Wisconsin's working families.

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GOP Rep. Sean Duffy will not challenge Democrat Tammy Baldwin for US Senate - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel