Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin declared victory early Wednesday morning in Wisconsin's tightly contested U.S. Senate race against Republican challenger Eric Hovde.
With nearly all precincts reporting, Baldwin led Hovde by 0.9 percent, according to unofficial results, just inside the 1 percent threshold that allows a recount request, if Hovde opts to pay for it. Baldwin declared victory after the tally of absentee ballots from Milwaukee was reported at about 4:30 a.m. The Associated Press has yet to call the race.
Baldwin's victory would add to her historic political career in Wisconsin, where she first won her seat in 2012 by defeating former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson.
"The people of Wisconsin have chosen someone who always puts Wisconsin first, someone who shows up, listens, and works with everyone to get the job done," said Baldwin, a two-term incumbent. "And they rejected the billionaires and the special interests who want to come to our state, spread hate and division, and buy their way into power."
Votes for Third-Party Candidate
Hovde stopped short of conceding, saying that his team would "continue to monitor returns and make sure that every vote is counted."
His statement raised questions about what he labeled a "fraudulent candidate," referring to Thomas Leager, a far-right candidate from the America First Party who reportedly siphoned votes that exceeded the margin between Baldwin and Hovde.
Leager was allegedly encouraged to enter the race by Democratic operatives to weaken Hovde's base, a move Hovde's team believes significantly impacted the election outcome. Leager finished a distant fourth but got more votes than the margin between Baldwin and Hovde.
Wisconsin law permits a recount if the margin is within 1 percent for races with more than 4,000 votes cast, and Hovde would be responsible for the recount costs unless the difference falls within 0.25 percent, at which point the state would cover expenses.
In the 2020 presidential election, former President Donald Trump's partial recount request in Dane and Milwaukee counties cost about $3 million.
'Our Rights and Freedom Are at Stake'
Hovde's messaging has been to largely position his opposition as a liberal out of step with Wisconsin values.
The businessman and real estate mogul—who invested millions of his own money into the campaign—attempted to paint Baldwin as ineffective on critical issues such as inflation and crime.
He faced opposition from Baldwin's team, which characterized him as an outsider with few ties to the state.
Baldwin's third-term campaign was boosted by an endorsement from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, marking the first time in 20 years the state's largest farm organization supported a Democratic candidate.
"Our democracy is at stake, our rights and freedom are at stake, health care and the economy are at stake," Baldwin told supporters during a campaign rally last week. "And I think that's going to make the difference in the end," she said.
Baldwin's Pivotal Democrat Senate Battleground
During their only debate, Hovde criticized Baldwin's lack of disclosure concerning assets tied to her partner, Maria Brisbane, a Wall Street adviser, calling it a "conflict of interest" given Baldwin's position overseeing health-related funding.
Baldwin responded pointedly, telling Hovde to "stay out of my personal life."
She was the first openly gay person to be elected to the Senate 12 years ago and has been in a relationship with Brisbane since 2018.
As Baldwin prepares for a likely third term, Wisconsin remains a battleground state. Republicans secured Senate wins in Ohio and West Virginia on Election Day to help regain the majority. Hovde's recount considerations suggest the results could remain contested, with his team expects to decide within days whether to formally request a recount.
Democrats were hoping for a Baldwin win to prevent Republicans from holding both of Wisconsin's Senate seats. The other seat is held by Ron Johnson.
"It's unfortunate if the Democrats wouldn't have put a plant, this probably would have been called some time ago," Hovde told his supporters. "But you know what? It is what it is."
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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