WASHINGTON — It appears that Sen. Tammy Baldwin may officially have some competition.
Millionaire businessman Eric Hovde is preparing to run against Baldwin, the Democrat from Madison who is running for her third term. Hovde has the blessing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the Senate GOP’s campaign arm.
Hovde, a banking and real estate entrepreneur with a home in Madison, ran for the U.S. Senate in 2012 and lost. Baldwin was unavailable for an interview but wrote this online about Hovde: “National Republicans just confirmed their #1 pick in Wisconsin’s Senate race will run against me — and he’s pledged to spend at least $20 million of his own personal fortune to win.”
“He would have lots of financial backing. His own wealth would be part of that,” said Barry Burden, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “I think the number one concern that Democrats will focus on is that he's not a real Wisconsin resident or connected to people in the state. He spent a lot of time living in Washington, D.C. and in California. He has a lavish home in California. He's in the banking industry and has properties and business interests there. There are reports that he's missed a number of votes in elections in Wisconsin in recent years. So, there'll be lots of questions raised, I think, about his loyalty to the state and whether he's essentially acting as a carpetbagger, trying to take advantage of a place where he might be able to pick up an office.”
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 that former President Donald Trump won in 2016.
“It's been something of a surprise, given her background in Madison and her progressive politics, that she has done so well in other parts of the state,” Burden said. “And I think Democrats have held her up as kind of a model for what Democrats might do to stay competitive in statewide races.”
Sen. Ron Johnson, Baldwin’s GOP counterpart, said he’ll support any Republican who runs against her.
“We need to replace Democrat senators,” he said. “We need to replace this Democrat administration and put this nation back on a path of prosperity.”
Others are considering a run against Baldwin too. Republican businessman Scott Mayer told Spectrum News he’ll decide if he’s entering the race after the New Year. Former Milwaukee County sheriff David Clarke, who has floated the idea of running, had no comment.
A spokesperson for the state’s Democratic Party said the Republicans considering a run are staring down a messy Senate primary, writing in part, “Between California Hovde, ultra-MAGA Sheriff David Clarke, and Scott Mayer, another out of touch megamillionaire, whoever emerges from the GOP primary will be out of touch with working Wisconsinites.”
Baldwin’s seat could determine control of the Senate in the next Congress. Currently, Democrats have a 51-49 majority, but they are defending several seats in Trump-leaning and swing states, including Baldwin’s in Wisconsin.