WASHINGTON — We’re just under a year away from the 2024 election. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., is seeking another term, but so far, big-name Republicans have decided not to challenge her.
“Republicans know that it is a very tough time to run statewide in Wisconsin as a Republican, given all of the baggage that comes with that, whether that's the ‘Trump effect,’ whether that is the extreme position that Republican candidates have staked out on access to abortion. It’s a tough time to be a Republican,” said Democratic strategist Joe Zepecki. “So while it's a little surprising, it's not shocking that Republicans still don't have a declared candidate in this race against Tammy Baldwin.”
Although Wisconsin is considered a swing state, Baldwin won her second term in 2018 by nearly 11 points. She’s campaigning heavily in rural areas, and she’s done well in some counties where former President Donald Trump won in 2016.
“It's not like she's sweeping the red areas of the state,” said Charles Franklin, a professor of law and policy at Marquette Law School. “But she's picking up six to 10 counties that normally Democrats don't win, and she's mitigating her losses in a number of others. What we don't know anything about is who her challenger may be at this point.”
Eric Hovde and Scott Mayer, both Republican businessmen, are rumored to be considering a run against Baldwin. Neither could be reached for comment, and Baldwin was unavailable for an interview.
Baldwin’s campaign suggested Hovde and Mayer are waiting to enter the race so they can “skirt financial disclosure rules.”
Three more high-profile Republican Congressmen from Wisconsin considered a run against her, but backed out.
“I think that is a clear indication of how Republican officeholders see Baldwin as a strong candidate and look to the fall 2024 electoral environment and ask themselves, 'Is this the year to defeat a sitting incumbent?”' Franklin said.
Still, her counterpart in the Senate, Republican Ron Johnson, doesn’t seem worried about putting up a notable GOP candidate against Baldwin.
“Remember, when I first ran 2010, I didn't even decide to run until April of the election year, announced in May and started campaigning in June. So there's plenty of time,” Johnson said.
Franklin suggested if a strong Republican does enter the race against Baldwin, he or she could be effective in attacking her over economic issues that have arisen since President Joe Biden took office.