Eric Hovde Concedes Wisconsin Senate Race

Eric Hovde, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin, conceded to incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin, following a close election where he lost by less than one percent, about 29,000 votes. Hovde expressed disappointment over the election results, particularly criticizing the timing of absentee ballots counted in Milwaukee, which he claims flipped the outcome in favor of Baldwin. Despite pressure from supporters to contest the results, he opted against a recount, citing the difficulty in reviewing ballot legitimacy and the desire to avoid further political strife. Hovde alleged that Democratic operatives had supported a third-party candidate, Thomas Leager, to siphon votes away from him. These claims have been widely refuted by election officials and both parties. Baldwin's victory contributes to a Republican-controlled Senate, despite Hovde's significant voter turnout for a Wisconsin Republican.