In the highly anticipated Senate race in Wisconsin, incumbent Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) has outpaced her Republican challenger, Eric Hovde, in fundraising through donor contributions in the first quarter.
According to recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, Baldwin’s principal campaign committee garnered approximately $4.7 million in contributions, concluding the quarter with $10.3 million on hand. Her campaign reported a total of $5.4 million for the quarter, as noted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Eric Hovde (Credits: The Daily Cardinal)
On the other side, Eric Hovde, a businessman who entered the race in February, raised about $1 million in contributions. However, he purposely bolstered his campaign finances by loaning it an additional $8 million, bringing his total cash on hand to $5.3 million by the end of the quarter.
Hovde has indicated he might invest as much as $20 million of his personal wealth into his campaign, a move that underscores his commitment to challenging Baldwin, who has been re-elected twice since first winning her seat in 2012 and 2018.
Tammy Baldwin (Credits: NBC News)
The contest is shaping up to be fiercely competitive, with an Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey last month showing Baldwin holding a narrow 3-point lead over Hovde. Adding to the stakes, Hovde recently received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, which could sway Republican voters in his favor.
This Senate race is one of several critical battleground contests that will not only influence the balance of power in the Senate but also play a crucial role in the upcoming presidential race, emphasizing Wisconsin’s status as a key swing state.
