WASHINGTON (SPECTRUM NEWS) — One week after defeating Democrat Tricia Zunker in a special election for Wisconsin’s vacant 7th congressional district seat, Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua was sworn in to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The new congressman said the past week has felt surreal.

“It really has hit home, being in Washington DC now after the 18 hour trip with my family from Northern Wisconsin,” said Rep. Tiffany. “It’s real now.”

The challenges ahead for Tiffany are also real.

The freshman lawmaker enters a divided Congress just days after the House passed the largest federal stimulus package aimed at mitigating the impact of the coronavirus pandemic mostly down party lines.

But Tiffany believes the Heroes Act left a lot to be desired.

“Our Congress needs to make sure that they’re focused on getting us through this tough time with [COVID-19],” he said. “Let’s not try to do all this other stuff that’s on people’s political wish list.”

Every Wisconsin GOP lawmaker voted against the relief bill.

Three out of four were on Capitol Hill on Tuesday for Tiffany’s welcoming ceremony.

“He’ll really connect with the down-to-Earth, up north people in the state of Wisconsin,” said Rep. Glenn Grothman, (R) Glenbeulah.

Tiffany’s inclusion now strengthens the Republican majority in the state’s congressional delegation 5-3.

“I think he’s going to bering some of that Wisconsin commonsense to Washington, which Washington can use a lot more of,” said Rep. Bryan Steil, (R) Janesville. “I couldn’t be more excited that he’s joining the delegation.”

Rep. Tiffany’s trek to Washington comes on the heels of a dust up with Democrats in Wisconsin. 

Shortly after his election win, he called on the state’s Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to withdraw her name from consideration. 

He argued she exceeded her authority by advising strict safety guidelines on the state during this pandemic.

His opponent, Tricia Zunker, and Gov. Evers’ condemned what he said but Tiffany is standing by his words.

“What I said was very sincere,” said Rep. Tiffany. “I’ve seen the resume of Secretary-designee Palm. I’ve also heard her comments and statements where she’s talking about possibly not opening schools this fall and some of the things that they’re proposing are not grounded in reality.”