In the aftermath of Wisconsin’s Senate election, Republican candidate Eric Hovde is refusing to concede defeat to Democrat Tammy Baldwin, citing what he describes as “voting inconsistencies” in the tallying process.
As of the latest count, with 99% of votes tallied, Baldwin holds a narrow lead with 49.4% of the vote, compared to Hovde’s 48.5%. This margin represents fewer than 30,000 votes, according to projections from NBC News.
Hovde, a wealthy businessman, expressed his dissatisfaction with the results in a video posted to his X account on Tuesday night. He indicated that he was considering requesting a recount, despite the fact that the margin between the candidates exceeds the threshold required for a free recount.
In Wisconsin, a recount is permitted if the margin is less than 0.25 percentage points, but if the difference is greater, candidates must cover the cost of the process themselves if they still wish to pursue it.
Although Hovde could likely afford the cost of a recount, he has raised concerns that such a measure would not fully address the “inconsistencies” he claims to have identified. “There are meaningful limits on a recount, because they don’t look at the integrity of the ballot,” Hovde stated.
A central issue for Hovde is the absentee ballots from Milwaukee, the state’s largest city. These ballots, which heavily favored Baldwin, have sparked accusations of statistical improbability.
Hovde argued that the significant difference in absentee votes compared to in-person voting patterns in the city raises questions. Since Democrats tend to use absentee voting more than Republicans, and Milwaukee is a historically Democratic stronghold, Hovde’s team contends that the outcome may not be entirely reflective of the city’s overall voting tendencies.
Hovde also raised concerns about voter turnout in certain precincts, alleging that it appeared higher than the number of registered voters on file. However, his claim does not seem to account for the state’s provision allowing same-day voter registration, which could explain the discrepancy in turnout numbers.
In response, Baldwin has publicly criticized Hovde for refusing to concede, calling it an attack on democracy. “Wisconsin voters made their voices heard.
It’s time for Hovde to stop this disgusting attack on our democracy and concede,” Baldwin said. The Milwaukee County Election Commission also rejected Hovde’s claims, stating it “unequivocally refutes Eric Hovde’s baseless claims regarding the integrity of our election process.”
Hovde has received support from other prominent figures, including Kari Lake, a fellow Republican Senate candidate in Arizona who also has refused to concede her loss in the 2022 gubernatorial election. Lake, who is sympathetic to Hovde’s stance, posted a message on X, offering her support: “Praying for you, Eric Hovde, I’ve been there.”
As the situation develops, many are awaiting Hovde’s next move. For now, it remains to be seen whether he will pursue a recount or ultimately concede the race to Baldwin.
