Wisconsin Senate race/ Tammy Baldwin/ Eric Hovde/ Senate control/ GOP funding/ 2024 election/ MADISON/ WISCONSIN/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ With a tight Senate race underway in Wisconsin, Republicans are heavily investing in efforts to unseat Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Both parties are ramping up spending, as Baldwin faces GOP nominee Eric Hovde in a contest crucial to control of the Senate.
Wisconsin Senate Showdown: GOP Ramps Up Spending Against Baldwin – Quick Looks
- Big GOP Push: Republicans are investing millions to unseat Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin in a critical swing-state race.
- Spending Tactics: Democrats hold an overall ad spending lead, but GOP outpaces them in the final weeks.
- Strategic Endorsements: Baldwin, emphasizing her bipartisan approach, recently earned support from the conservative Wisconsin Farm Bureau.
- Key Issues: Economic policy, healthcare, and abortion are central to Baldwin and Hovde’s campaign strategies.
- High Stakes: A Baldwin loss could jeopardize the Democrats’ slim Senate majority.
GOP Pours Millions into Wisconsin Sen. Race Against Dem Tammy Baldwin
Deep Look
With an eye on tipping the balance of the U.S. Senate, Republicans have turned their attention and funding to Wisconsin, where Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin is fighting a close race against GOP nominee Eric Hovde. As Election Day nears, the GOP is ramping up its spending on this highly competitive seat, sensing an opportunity in the critical swing state. For Democrats, this race is equally important, and they’re investing heavily to retain their slim Senate majority.
Growing Investment from Both Parties
Both parties are pouring funds into the Wisconsin Senate contest, with Democrats outspending Republicans overall. According to AdImpact, Democrats have spent $93 million on ads compared to the GOP’s $69 million as of mid-October. Baldwin’s campaign is a major part of this spending, while Hovde has been more reliant on support from outside groups.
However, in the final stretch of the race, Republicans have stepped up their spending, with $21 million in ads lined up through Election Day, compared to $15 million reserved by Democrats. The Senate Leadership Fund, led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, has committed $13.1 million to boost Hovde’s campaign, contributing significantly to the GOP’s late surge.
Hovde, a businessman from Madison, Wisconsin, believes he has the momentum needed to win. “I plan to win this race because I’m going to stay focused on what matters,” he stated at a Milwaukee forum. Meanwhile, Baldwin is confident in her strategy and remains committed to a broad, bipartisan approach. “We always knew the race would tighten, but we have the strength, momentum, and message to win,” Baldwin said.
Candidate Strategies: Policy and Appeal
In a closely contested state, both candidates are relying on issues they believe resonate with Wisconsin voters. Baldwin’s campaign emphasizes her record of championing Wisconsin’s agricultural and manufacturing industries, advocating for middle-class interests, and securing bipartisan support. Recently, she earned an endorsement from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau for her efforts in agriculture, marking the first time in over 20 years the organization endorsed a Democrat in a statewide race.
Hovde has framed Baldwin as a “career politician,” citing her four decades in elected office as evidence she’s out of touch. He’s focused on economic issues and immigration, areas where GOP strategist Alec Zimmerman suggests Republicans have the upper hand. Hovde has also accused Baldwin of avoiding voters by only agreeing to one debate, scheduled for Friday, which he says signals a lack of transparency.
On the policy front, Baldwin has targeted Hovde’s stance on Social Security, healthcare, and abortion. Her ads claim Hovde, a wealthy CEO, wants to cut Social Security and Medicare, limit Affordable Care Act benefits, and impose a national abortion ban. In response, Hovde clarifies that he supports raising the Social Security retirement age only for future generations and does not advocate cuts for current beneficiaries.
Hovde, who opposed abortion rights during his 2012 Senate run, has moderated his stance, now saying he would not vote for a federal abortion ban, arguing instead that the issue should be left to states.
High-Stakes History in Wisconsin
Wisconsin, known for its razor-thin election margins, has often been at the center of national politics. Though Baldwin won her past races comfortably — by 6 points in 2012 and 11 in 2018 — recent results have been tighter. GOP Sen. Ron Johnson, for example, won re-election in 2022 by a single point.
The outcome in Wisconsin carries significant weight for the Senate’s future. Democrats currently hold a 51-49 majority, but with 23 seats to defend, they face an uphill battle, particularly as Republicans are defending only 11. If Baldwin loses, it would be much harder for Democrats to maintain control of the Senate.
Campaign Challenges and Tightening Polls
The candidates’ contrasting approaches have turned this into a high-stakes and high-spending contest. Hovde has financed his campaign with $13 million of his own money and benefitted from outside funding, while Baldwin relies on a well-funded campaign operation and significant advertising buys. As Election Day approaches, Republicans and Democrats alike recognize that the stakes in Wisconsin are high.
For Democrats, a Baldwin victory would mean holding a critical Senate seat and preserving some legislative momentum. For Republicans, flipping Wisconsin could signal a Republican wave in November and shift the Senate’s balance. With both campaigns heavily invested and energized, Wisconsin’s race is likely to be one of the most-watched battles in the 2024 election cycle.
