Republican Duffy wins seat long held by Democrat Obey

Running on a message to balance the federal budget and relying on the private sector to create jobs, Republican Sean Duffy won a long-held Democratic seat Tuesday night. 

"That message resonated out," he said in a story in the Eau Claire, Wis. Leader-Telegram.

Duffy takes over the seat held for 40 years by House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, who opted to retire.  

"We're going in a new direction," Duffy said last night.

Duffy won 52 percent to 44 percent over Democrat Julie Lassa. Duffy had planned a run before Obey announced his retirement, getting an early jump on Lassa.

Duffy said he will push for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and has called for extending tax cuts set to expire at the end of year, as well as reforming the tax code and expanding trade and exports. He sad he wants to freeze spending at 2008 levels, return unspent stimulus money and start paying down the deficit. He specifically called for the repeal of a 1099 requirement for small businesses as part of the new healthcare law.

Besides being known for his role on MTV's "The Real World," Duffy, 39, is also a five-time world-champion log climber and was the Ashland County district attorney from August 2002 to June 2010.