Sen. Baldwin delivers victory speech after defeating Eric Hovde
MADISON - Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin delivered a victory speech on Thursday, Nov. 7 in Madison after she defeated Republican challenger Eric Hovde.
Baldwin spoke to supporters, volunteers and campaign staff at the Steamfitters Local 601 union training center. The Associated Press called the race on Wednesday afternoon.
"From the bottom of my heart, I wanted to say thank you to the people of Wisconsin for putting their trust in me to continue to be their fighter in Washington, D.C.," Sen. Baldwin said. "I listen to people. I really listen to people and then deliver for them. And in turn, these Wisconsinites showed up for me and I'm so grateful."
During the speech, Baldwin also addressed the results of the presidential election.
"While I am overjoyed at this victory, I have to acknowledge the results of the presidential race. While we worked our hearts out to elect Kamala Harris, I recognize that the people of Wisconsin chose Donald Trump, and I respect their choice. You know that I will always fight for Wisconsin. And that means working with President Trump to do that and standing up to him when he doesn't have our best interests at heart," Baldwin said.
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History of this race
Four of the past six presidential elections were decided in Wisconsin by less than a percentage point. Its races for U.S. Senate have not been quite as tight – Baldwin won by nearly 6 points in her first race in 2012 and by almost 11 points in 2018. But in 2022, Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson won a third term in 2022 by only a point.
Trump, Baldwin win in Wisconsin; split-ticket voter shares decision
Wisconsin is split. Both Republican President-Elect Donald Trump and Democrat Tammy Baldwin claimed victory in the battleground state.
The last time two Republicans represented Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate was 1957. U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican, holds the state's other seat. Democratic momentum has resulted in their candidates winning 14 of the past 17 statewide elections headed into Election Day.
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The Baldwin-Hovde race was critical for Democrats who were defending 23 seats in the Senate entering Nov. 5, including three held by independents who caucus with Democrats clinging to a 51-49 majority. That’s compared with just 11 seats that Republicans hoped to keep in their column.
"We deserve a politics with less vitriol, less division, less hatred and fewer lies. Actually, no lies," Baldwin said. "It's time that we come together and tackle the problems that are actually facing working people and communities across our state. It's time that we put the politics of division behind us."
GOP response
Hovde has yet to concede.
Republicans say third party candidates siphoned votes from Hovde.
In total, the other two got 70,000 votes.
The AP reported before Election Day that Democratic operatives recruited conservative Thomas Leager to run with the title "America First Party."
"The Democrats, to win, have to come in and pose as something they’re not in some of these races," said Wisconsin GOP Chair Brian Schimming. "They essentially supported a third party candidate who was posing as some kind of Republican."
Baldwin did not take any questions after her speech.