Republicans seeking candidates to challenge Sen. Tammy Baldwin.
Republicans Search for Strong Candidate to Challenge Sen. Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin
Republicans are on the hunt for a formidable candidate to take on incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in her bid for a third term next year. With the goal of regaining control of the Senate, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, have been actively recruiting highly electable candidates in key swing states.
The path to victory for McConnell and Daines relies on winning in states like Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, where Democratic incumbents are up for reelection. However, Wisconsin, often overlooked in the early stages, could prove to be a vulnerable target due to Baldwin’s progressive credentials.
Despite her left-wing stance, Baldwin is considered a strong candidate, thanks to her impressive fundraising abilities and reputation for prioritizing constituent services. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is heavily invested in protecting incumbents like Baldwin, but with Republicans lacking a serious candidate as of mid-August, major resources have not yet been allocated to her race.
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), the top choice for Senate Republicans, declined to run, citing his work as chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Daines expressed disappointment but acknowledged the importance of having a serious conversation with Gallagher about the possibility.
Another potential candidate, Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), also decided to run for reelection in the House. Speculation arose earlier this year when web domain name purchases for “thomastiffanyforsenate.com” and “tomtiffany4senate.com” were flagged by web crawlers.
Other GOP congressmen from Wisconsin, including Reps. Scott Fitzgerald, Glenn Grotham, Bryan Steil, and Derrick Van Orden, as well as former House Speaker Paul Ryan, declined the opportunity to run for Senate.
The remaining potential candidates being recruited by the NRSC are Eric Hovde and Scott Mayer, both Wisconsin-based businessmen with the ability to self-fund their campaigns. Hovde, who invested millions in his failed 2012 Senate bid, is taking his time to decide, vetting consultants and attending GOP events. Mayer, on the other hand, plans to make a decision by Labor Day.
Former Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke, a conservative firebrand with close ties to former President Donald Trump, is also considering a bid. However, he may face challenges in gaining support from Senate GOP leaders.
Daines dismissed any notion of problems in the candidate recruitment process, stating that the “jury’s still out” on Wisconsin. He expressed optimism about the competitiveness of the race and hinted at the engagement with other potential candidates.
According to NRSC spokesman Tate Mitchell, a strong candidate will be chosen in Wisconsin to highlight Tammy Baldwin’s record as a far-left rubber stamp for Joe Biden.
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