Madison (WQOW) – The governor has announced when a special election will be held to fill the 7th Congressional District seat formerly held by Sean Duffy.

Governor Tony Evers said the special primary will be held on the same day as the spring primary, February 19, 2020.

The special election will be held three months later on May 12, 2020.

Evers opted against setting the general election on April 7, the same day as a state Supreme Court election. Democrats feared holding the special election then in the heavily Republican district would drive up GOP turnout and help the conservative incumbent Supreme Court justice.

The move announced Friday comes after Evers originally called for the election to be Jan. 27, with a primary on Dec. 30.

But Evers had to reverse himself after being told by the U.S. Department of Justice that the initial dates violated federal law because there wasn’t enough time between the primary and general election to get ballots to overseas and military voters.