Current:Home > ScamsWisconsin Senate race pits Trump-backed millionaire against Democratic incumbent-LoTradeCoin
Wisconsin Senate race pits Trump-backed millionaire against Democratic incumbent
View Date:2024-12-23 16:31:48
Follow live: Updates from AP’s coverage of the presidential election.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s hotly contested U.S. Senate race pits two-term Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin against Republican Eric Hovde, a millionaire businessman backed by former President Donald Trump who poured millions of his own money into the contest.
A win by Baldwin is crucial for Democrats to retain their 51-49 majority in the Senate. Democrats are defending 23 seats, including three held by independents who caucus with them. That’s compared with just 11 seats that Republicans hope to keep in their column.
While Baldwin’s voting record is liberal, she emphasized bipartisanship throughout the campaign. Baldwin became the first statewide Democratic candidate to win an endorsement from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization, in more than 20 years.
Her first television ad noted that her buy-American bill was signed into law by Trump. In July, she touted Senate committee approval of a bill she co-authored with Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, that seeks to ensure that taxpayer-funded inventions are manufactured in the United States.
Hovde tried to portray Baldwin as an out-of-touch liberal career politician who didn’t do enough to combat inflation, illegal immigration and crime.
Hovde’s wealth, primarily his management of Utah-based Sunwest Bank and ownership of a $7 million Laguna Beach, California, estate, has been a key line of attack from Baldwin, who has tried to cast him as an outsider who doesn’t represent Wisconsin values.
Baldwin also attacked Hovde over his opposition to abortion rights.
Hovde said he supported the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, but said he would not vote for a federal law banning abortion, leaving it to the states to decide. That is a change of his position from his last run for Senate in 2012, when he “totally opposed” abortion.
Baldwin’s television ads hit on a consistent theme that Hovde insulted farmers, older residents, parents and others. Hovde, who was born in Madison and owns a house there, accused Baldwin of distorting his comments, lying about his record and misleading voters.
Baldwin won her first Senate race in 2012, against popular former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson, by almost 6 percentage points. Hovde lost to Thompson in that year’s primary.
Hovde attacked Baldwin for being in elected office since 1987, including the past 12 years in the Senate and 14 in the House before that.
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Keke Palmer Says Ryan Murphy “Ripped” Into Her Over Scream Queens Schedule
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs' e-commerce brand dropped by companies after sexual abuse claims
- How 'Bout a Round of Applause for Rihanna’s Pearl-Embellished Look
- UAW accuses Honda, Hyundai and VW of union-busting
- Rita Ora pays tribute to Liam Payne at MTV Europe Music Awards: 'He brought so much joy'
- Poland’s new prime minister vows to press the West to continue helping neighboring Ukraine
- Investigators accessed Trump White House cellphone records and plan to use them at trial, special counsel says
- 'Taxi' reunion: Tony Danza talks past romance with co-star Marilu Henner
- Indiana in the top five of the College Football Playoff rankings? You've got to be kidding
- Cheating, a history: 10 scandals that rocked the world of sports
Ranking
- Florida Man Arrested for Cold Case Double Murder Almost 50 Years Later
- Our 12 favorite moments of 2023
- Amanda Bynes returns to the spotlight: New podcast comes post-conservatorship, retirement
- SantaCons have flocks of Santas flooding city streets nationwide: See the Christmas chaos
- Joel Embiid injury, suspension update: When is 76ers star's NBA season debut?
- Billy Ray Cyrus' Birthday Tribute to Wife Firerose Will Cure Any Achy Breaky Heart
- Wrongfully convicted Minnesota man set free after nearly 2 decades in prison
- Hilary Duff Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 4
Recommendation
-
COINIXIAI Introduce
-
Brandon Aubrey, kicker for the Cowboys, hasn't missed a field goal. Maybe he should.
-
After UPenn president's resignation, Wesleyan University president says leaders should speak out against hate
-
Thousands rally in Slovakia to condemn the new government’s plan to close top prosecutors’ office
-
Gavin Rossdale Makes Rare Public Appearance With Girlfriend Xhoana Xheneti
-
No victims found after seven-story building partially collapses in Bronx
-
Baby boy killed in Connecticut car crash days before 1st birthday
-
Arctic report card points to rapid and dramatic impacts of climate change