Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has successfully secured a third term to represent Wisconsin, with her victory announced on Wednesday. This triumph is significant for the Democratic Party, bolstering their efforts to retain majority control in the Senate. Baldwin triumphed over Republican candidate Eric Hovde, a businessman with a substantial fortune, who was making his second bid for a Senate seat after a previous defeat in the 2012 Republican primary.

In her campaign, Baldwin emphasized Hovde’s perceived detachment from Wisconsin’s residents, citing his multimillion-dollar estate located in California as evidence of this disconnect. Furthermore, she criticized him for his previous stance against abortion rights, which became a focal point in their competition. Baldwin originally entered the Senate in 2012, and her reelection reinforces her influence within the party.

The announcement of Baldwin’s victory was made at 1:42 p.m. EST, marking a pivotal moment for both her career and the Democratic Party’s strategy for the future.