MADISON, Wis. — Republican businessman Eric Hovde is a Wisconsin-native with roots in real estate and banking. He also has a nonprofit called the Hovde Foundation that works to combat human trafficking.
Hovde, who is running against incumbent Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin for a seat in the U.S. Senate, said his campaign stands on four main issues: Cost of living, immigration, health care and foreign policy.
One of the hot button topics across the country is abortion. Hovde said he would not support a nationwide abortion ban, but rather supports a state-by-state approach.
“I’ve been very clear on this,” Hovde said. “It’s been put back to the states. The people of Wisconsin need to find a common sense, compassionate approach to resolving an issue. I think it should be done through a referendum so everybody has their vote. You’ll have your vote; I’ll have my vote. I believe in the beauty of life. I have two daughters, three grandchildren. Life is precious. I believe in exceptions for rape, incest and the health of mother, and I agree that a woman should have a right to choose early on in their pregnancy.”
If elected, Hovde said working in a bipartisan manner is a priority. He said he has plans to meet with Democrats right away to work on important issues.
“One of the first things I would do, is go about meeting with every Democrat senator, not only Republican senators, but Democrat senators,” he said. “We are going to be different on most things, but maybe there is a common ground.”
He said he would prioritize a handful of issues first with Democrats such as the economy and immigration and the border. Hovde said he would also want to work across the aisle when it comes to health care.
Hovde was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when he was 27 years old. He said health care is a topic that is near and dear to his heart.
“Access to care is collapsing. The cost of care continues to rise. We have wiped out the family doctor. We really got to get on new solutions to get our health care system working for people, because I’m the last year of the baby boom generation. Over the next 10 to 20 years, the baby boom generation needing greater access to the health care system could crater the health care system. So, we need to get this fixed and we need to get this fixed fast.”
Another issue often brought up against Hovde is social security, and if the age should change.
“Social security should not be touched for anyone who is using social security or planning to need it within the next 15 years,” Hovde said. “But we do have to look at social security for the long term.
Hovde said with a potential jump in life expectancy, he could see maybe adding a year or two in the age for social security for people in their 30s and 40s.
Hovde cast his vote on the first day of early in-person voting in Wisconsin. Election Day is Nov. 5.