Baldwin Leads Hovde in Tight Senate Race

In Wisconsin's closely contested U.S. Senate race, Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin declared victory over Republican Eric Hovde, who was backed by Donald Trump, with a narrow lead of 0.9% based on unofficial results. This margin, just under 1%, allows Hovde to request a recount. Baldwin emphasized that voters chose a candidate who prioritizes Wisconsin over special interests, while Hovde claimed that a far-right candidate, Thomas Leager, siphoned votes away from him due to Democratic operatives' influence. Meanwhile, concerns were raised about the recount of 31,000 absentee ballots in Milwaukee due to a procedural error, with Republican officials labeling the process as disorganized. Milwaukee's election officials maintained that the recount was precautionary and that no tampering occurred. The situation reflects ongoing tensions surrounding election integrity in the state, reminiscent of allegations made during the 2020 election.