In a tightly contested U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin, Republican Eric Hovde conceded defeat to incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin on Monday.
While Hovde, who was backed by President-elect Donald Trump, could have requested a recount of votes as there was a razor-thin margin of less than 1 percentage point at about 29,000 votes, he declined to pursue such a request.
What Hovede Said?
Hovde’s concession came in a video statement Monday, where he reiterated claims about “troubling issues” surrounding absentee ballots in Milwaukee. The claims, widely debunked by election officials from both parties, focused on a surge of Democratic votes reported early the morning after Election Day—votes that ultimately sealed Baldwin’s victory.
“Without a detailed review of all the ballots and their legitimacy, which will be difficult to obtain in the courts, a request for a recount would serve no purpose because you will just be recounting the same ballots regardless of their integrity,” Hovde said.
The votes in question were absentee ballots from Milwaukee, which are processed and counted at a central facility and reported simultaneously, often in the early hours following Election Day.
Morry Gash/AP
This delay has long been a standard practice due to the sheer volume of ballots and Wisconsin state law prohibiting the processing of absentee votes before polls open. Election officials have consistently emphasized this timeline to avoid confusion, highlighting the logistical challenges and legal constraints involved in the process.
While Hovde acknowledged that challenging the results in court would be unlikely to succeed, his comments echoed broader Republican concerns about election integrity, even as officials pointed out the well-documented reasons for Milwaukee’s late reporting of absentee ballots.
What Did Baldwin Say?
Baldwin, who declared victory on November 6 after The Associated Press (AP) called the race, is now poised to embark on her third term in the Senate. Her margin of victory marks her narrowest win yet, a stark contrast to her prior victories in 2012 with almost 6 percentage points and in 2018 by nearly 11 points.
According to the AP, Baldwin’s campaign referred requests for comment on Hovde’s concession on Monday to her victory speech last week.
In her victory speech, Baldwin extended an olive branch to Trump and Republican leaders, signaling a willingness to collaborate on shared priorities. However, she also vowed to fight to protect the national health care law and abortion rights.
Hovde’s Future Political Ambitions
Despite the loss, Hovde, a wealthy banker and real estate developer who first ran for Senate in 2012 but lost in the Republican primary, hinted at a possible return to politics as he did not rule out another political campaign in the future.
In addition, some Republican insiders have floated him as a potential candidate for governor of Wisconsin in 2026.
Meanwhile, Baldwin’s win comes against the backdrop of a challenging year for Democrats, who lost control of Congress amid GOP gains nationwide.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
