Dem Senator’s Race Moves To ‘Toss-Up’ As Trump-Backed GOP Candidate Closes Gap
Charlie Kirk Staff
10/09/2024

With less than a month remaining until Election Day, the competition in Senate battleground states is intensifying. In Wisconsin, the race for the seat currently held by Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has become extremely competitive.
After enjoying a comfortable seven-point lead in August, Baldwin’s advantage has shrunk to just two points against Donald Trump-backed Republican challenger Eric Hovde, who stands at 47% to Baldwin’s 49%, according to the latest Swing State Project survey from Cook Political Report.
Although a recent poll from Marquette Law School indicates Baldwin is leading by seven points, with 53% to 46%, private polls from both Democratic and Republican sources suggest that the race is very close, falling within the margin of error. They consider the Marquette results to be an outlier.
The shift in the race is not unexpected in Wisconsin, a state known for its sharply divided political landscape. The 2022 Senate race was decided by a narrow margin of just one point.
Although Baldwin currently leads among independents by eight points, 50% to 42%, political reporter Jessica Taylor notes that there has been a significant 11-point shift toward Hovde among this crucial group since August.
Hovde, a venture capitalist funding his own campaign, has effectively united Republicans and has made significant strides with independent voters, making the race increasingly competitive as Election Day approaches—though early voting began last month in several state
The Senate Leadership Fund, a major super PAC associated with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), has recently allocated $17 million for advertising in Wisconsin, according to The Hill.
Since winning the mid-August primary, Baldwin and her Democratic allies have outspent Hovde and the Republicans by roughly $10 million. A victory for Hovde could indicate a strong performance for Republicans on election night, potentially paving the way for a Senate majority of at least 53 seats.
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Tate Mitchell said in a statement: “After 25 years in Washington, Tammy Baldwin has become the typical D.C. politician, voting in lockstep with the failed Biden agenda and hiding her Wall Street partner’s stock trades from her constituents. Wisconsinites are ready for change, and Eric Hovde has the momentum.”