MADISON, Wis. — The U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin is intensifying as two-term Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin faces off against Republican Eric Hovde, a wealthy businessman with strong support from former President Donald Trump, who has invested millions of his personal fortune into the campaign.
Baldwin’s victory is vital for the Democrats to maintain their narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate. The party is defending a total of 23 seats, including three held by independents who align with them, while Republicans aim to secure only 11 seats.
Despite Baldwin’s liberal voting history, she has highlighted the importance of bipartisanship during her campaign. Notably, she has received an endorsement from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, marking the first time in over two decades that a Democratic statewide candidate has earned this backing.
In her inaugural television advertisement, Baldwin pointed out that her buy-American legislation was enacted under Trump’s administration. Additionally, in July, she celebrated Senate committee approval of a collaborative bill she co-authored with Trump’s former running mate, Sen. JD Vance, which aims to mandate that taxpayer-funded inventions are manufactured domestically.
Hovde, on the other hand, has sought to paint Baldwin as an out-of-touch politician who has failed to address key issues like inflation, illegal immigration, and crime effectively. He has focused on highlighting his wealth, derived from managing Sunwest Bank and owning an estate valued at $7 million in Laguna Beach, California, which Baldwin has utilized to argue that he is disconnected from Wisconsin values.
Baldwin has also taken Hovde to task for his stance on abortion rights. Although Hovde expressed support for the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, he stated that he would not advocate for a federal ban on abortion, preferring states to determine their own policies. This marks a shift from his previous position during his 2012 Senate campaign, where he was firmly against abortion.
Baldwin’s campaign ads consistently highlight instances where Hovde is portrayed as having insulted various demographics, including farmers, senior citizens, and parents. In response, Hovde—who owns a house in Madison—has accused Baldwin of misrepresenting his statements, lying about his record, and leading voters astray.
Baldwin first triumphed in the Senate elections in 2012, defeating the well-known former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson by nearly 6 percentage points, while Hovde had previously lost to Thompson in that year’s primary.
Hovde has criticized Baldwin for her lengthy tenure in elected office, which extends back to 1987, including 12 years in the Senate and 14 years in the House prior to that.