MADISON, Wis. — The Senate race in Wisconsin heated up during a fiery debate on Friday, with Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin and her Republican opponent Eric Hovde trading accusations of dishonesty. The event, organized by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association and held in Madison, saw both candidates challenge each other’s credibility throughout the discussion.
A central theme of the debate was the consistent allegations of untruthfulness made by both parties. Hovde claimed Baldwin had mastered the art of lying in Washington. This accusation arose during a dialogue about Social Security, where Baldwin criticized Hovde’s proposal to revert federal budget levels to those of 2019, predicting it would lead to significant cuts in essential programs. Baldwin asserted, “He supports spending, just not for you,” while emphasizing that independent fact-checkers had identified falsehoods in Hovde’s statements during the campaign. Hovde countered, alleging that all of Baldwin’s advertisements contained inaccuracies, although he provided no substantial proof to support his claim.
The debate also turned personal when Hovde demanded Baldwin disclose details regarding the financial investments and business interests of her partner, Maria Brisbane, a notable wealth advisor according to Forbes. Hovde characterized Baldwin’s failure to make this information available as a conflict of interest. In a strong rebuttal, Baldwin directed Hovde to respect her personal life, asserting, “And I think I speak for most Wisconsin women that he should stay out of all of our personal lives.” Hovde’s financial disclosures indicated he could be one of the wealthiest senators if elected, possessing assets totaling between $195 million and $564 million, while Baldwin’s assets ranged from approximately $601,000 to nearly $1.3 million.
On the topic of abortion rights, Baldwin expressed her intent to support a federal law to ensure abortion access nationwide, referencing the dangers women face under current regulations. She remarked, “Women are dying because of the current situation.” Hovde, who previously backed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, indicated a shift in his stance, stating he would oppose a national abortion ban and favor state-level decisions. “I’m not for a national abortion ban,” he clarified, highlighting a significant change from his previous positions during past campaigns.
In an attempt to counter accusations that he was disconnected from Wisconsin due to his $7 million estate in California, Hovde produced a utility bill as proof of his residency in Madison, challenging Baldwin to provide her own utility bills from the past decade. Baldwin and her allies have attempted to portray Hovde as more aligned with California interests than Wisconsin values, despite Hovde’s Wisconsin upbringing.
Baldwin reaffirmed her strong support for the Affordable Care Act, while Hovde called the need for reforms to the existing health care system, suggesting it failed to control rising costs or improve access for patients. He stated, “I’m a believer in results, and if you look at the results, every one of those promises has failed.”
Hovde also raised concerns over absentee ballot drop boxes, which faced bans and reinstatements amid ongoing legal debates. He argued that the return of these drop boxes, initially a COVID-19 response, undermined public confidence in the electoral system. Although the number of drop boxes has decreased from over 500 during the pandemic, communities are not required to report their exact numbers, which complicates the situation further.
Interestingly, the presidential race barely surfaced in the debate, with only a fleeting reference to Donald Trump and no mention of Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate. Hovde has been an active supporter of Trump, while Baldwin has aligned herself with Harris.
The significance of this debate lies in the ongoing struggle for control of the Senate. With Democrats aiming to retain the Wisconsin seat to maintain their slim majority, this election is particularly crucial. Democrats are tasked with defending 23 seats, whereas Republicans have only 11 available, making this one of the costliest Senate races this year as both parties invest heavily in the campaign.