Eric Hovde wins Wisconsin Republican primary face Sen. Tammy Baldwin
Businessman Eric Hovde won the Wisconsin Republican primary for Senate, setting up a critical battleground state race against Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin.
Businessman Eric Hovde won the Wisconsin Republican primary for the Senate, NBC News projects, setting up a critical battleground-state race against Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin.
Hovde, who was backed by former President Donald Trump and other national Republicans, easily fended off two lesser-known primary opponents, while Baldwin ran unopposed as she seeks a third term.
Baldwin’s seat is a top priority for both parties in the battle for control of the closely divided Senate. She has worked to build up a sizable campaign war chest and leverage her appeal in rural parts of the state.
In 2018, Baldwin won re-election by 11 points, following a 5-point win in 2012. By comparison, Trump and President Joe Biden each carried the state by less than 1 percentage point in the last two White House contests. Baldwin has also fared better than the top of the Democratic ticket in some recent Wisconsin polling.
Hovde, an independently wealthy businessman who ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2012, has already lent his campaign $13 million. But Baldwin has maintained a financial edge, having spent more than $30 million so far with $6.4 million left in her campaign account as of July 24, according to the latest campaign finance reports. Hovde’s campaign has reported having spent $13.6 million so far, and it had $3.1 million on hand as of July 24.
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