Republican Michael Alfonso and Democrat Fred Clark clashed over energy costs, Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline, housing and data centers Wednesday night in the only scheduled debate of Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District race. The seat represents northern Wisconsin and is open because Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany is running for governor. Tiffany won a 2020 special election after then-Rep. Sean Duffy resigned. Clark, 67, is a forester and former state lawmaker seeking to flip the district, which was held by Democrats for decades before Duffy’s election in 2010. Alfonso, 26, is Duffy’s son-in-law and has received campaign support from the transportation secretary, who was appointed by President Donald Trump. The candidates’ approaches broadly divided over how much government should shape the economy. Alfonso argued for reducing regulations and limiting federal involvement; Clark called for targeted public investment and rules to address community needs. On fuel prices, Alfonso said the United States should produce more energy at home to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Clark said domestic production cannot insulate consumers from global oil-market swings and blamed the Trump administration’s war in Iran for pushing up fuel costs. He called for a foreign policy that reduces instability. Alfonso criticized U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts but defended Trump’s Iran policy, saying it was aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The source text cited a Reuters report saying there was no credible indication Iran had a coordinated weapons program before the conflict, though the country was enriching uranium. Line 5, which carries petroleum products through Wisconsin and other states, was another point of disagreement. Alfonso said the pipeline helps keep costs down and supports it. Clark said he is not calling for it to be shut down, but wants federal oversight of pipeline siting. He warned that a spill in the Lake Superior watershed could cause lasting damage. In August, Line 5 had a leak described as Wisconsin’s largest reported oil and gas pipeline spill in more than 50 years. On housing, Alfonso proposed cutting building regulations, arguing that costs incurred before construction begins make homes less affordable. Clark called for first-time-buyer assistance and public-private efforts to make building more affordable, including using Wisconsin timber. He said housing, childcare and public investment are among the factors affecting whether young people remain in northern communities. The candidates also differed on education and data centers. Alfonso called for eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and shifting support from public universities toward trade schools. He brought up federal scrutiny of a Wisconsin school district’s bathroom policies and said local communities should decide which bathrooms students use. Clark likewise said those decisions should rest with teachers, administrators and parents. Alfonso said data centers should use closed-loop water systems, avoid driving up energy bills and be subject to local approval. He opposed federal intervention in local decisions. Clark challenged him to say whether Trump was wrong to seek limits on state regulation of artificial intelligence and data centers. Alfonso replied that local communities should be able to reject projects, while states and municipalities—not Washington—should decide whether they are built. The debate also highlighted the candidates’ different visions for keeping residents in the district. Alfonso said lower costs and fewer barriers to business would help families and young people return. Clark argued that government can help create the conditions for businesses to thrive through fair rules and investments in housing and childcare. Alfonso previously worked in construction while attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, later spending about a year as a podcast producer in Florida. He has said he works as an accountant for a church. Clark’s campaign is aiming to recapture a seat last held by a Democrat in 2010, a difficult task in a district represented by Republicans since Duffy’s election.