{"id":2112007,"date":"2023-11-30T10:47:09","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T15:47:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-ex-race-car-driver-could-play-spoiler-to-gops-plans-to-oust-tammy-baldwin\/"},"modified":"2023-11-30T10:49:42","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T15:49:42","slug":"wisconsin-ex-race-car-driver-could-play-spoiler-to-gops-plans-to-oust-tammy-baldwin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-ex-race-car-driver-could-play-spoiler-to-gops-plans-to-oust-tammy-baldwin\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Wisconsin race car driver could disrupt GOP&#8217;s efforts to remove Tammy Baldwin"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwisconsin-ex-race-car-driver-could-play-spoiler-to-gops-plans-to-oust-tammy-baldwin%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2112007&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>National Republicans Eyeing Strong Candidate to Challenge Sen. Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin<\/h2>\n<p>Excitement is \u2064building\u2062 among national Republicans as they believe \u2063they \u200dhave found a credible candidate to take on\u2063 Sen. Tammy \u200dBaldwin (D-WI) in the upcoming election. Businessman Eric Hovde is on the\u200d verge \u200bof announcing\u200b his run in early 2024, \u200caccording to \u2063multiple sources.\u200d After months of courting by \u2063the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Hovde&#8217;s entry into the race would be a major victory for\u2063 the party.<\/p>\n<h3>A\u2064 Promising\u2064 Candidate with Deep Pockets<\/h3>\n<p>Hovde, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-could-withhold-funds-to-compel-supreme-court-to-adopt-ethics-rules\/\" title=\"Dems may withhold funds to force SCOTUS to adopt ethics rules.\">successful real estate developer<\/a> and bank \u2063CEO, has a promising track\u200b record. In the 2012 Republican primary for Senate, he came close to defeating former\u200b Wisconsin governor Tommy\u2062 Thompson. This time around, Hovde is willing to \u200bspend millions,\u200d possibly tens of millions, of\u200c his\u200d own money \u200cto support his campaign. This \u200dis welcome news for Republicans in a state that saw\u2064 over $100 million in candidate and outside \u200dspending during the last \u2064Senate contest.<\/p>\n<p>However, \u2062the NRSC (National \u200dRepublican\u2062 Senatorial Committee) now\u2062 faces \u2064a problem.\u2064 There are too many wealthy businessmen interested in the race. Scott Mayer, a\u200c political newcomer \u200dand founder of a successful \u200bstaffing company, was on\u200b their shortlist until\u200c recently. While Hovde\u200b had the advantage \u200dof \u2062a larger bank account and\u2064 a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-puts-uranium-between-hard-rock-and-no-place-on-critical-mineral-list\/\" title=\"Biden admin classifies uranium as a 'critical mineral'\">proven track \u2064record<\/a>, Mayer&#8217;s\u200c ability to self-fund \u200ccaught\u2064 the\u200b NRSC&#8217;s attention.<\/p>\n<h3>A \u2063Contested Primary Looms<\/h3>\n<p>Mayer initially presented himself \u200cas a candidate of last resort, but as Hovde&#8217;s interest grew,\u2062 so \u2063did Mayer&#8217;s.\u200c He \u2064has hired consultants, conducted internal polling, and made appearances \u2062at \u2064party events, all \u2063signs of a serious\u2064 Senate candidate. This raises the possibility of a contested\u2064 primary, \u2063something Republicans wanted to avoid at all costs.<\/p>\n<p>Another\u200d potential wildcard \u2062in the race is David Clarke, the MAGA-aligned firebrand \u200dand former sheriff of Milwaukee County.\u2064 While he\u2064 has kept the\u200d possibility of running \u200balive,\u200c many Republicans are \u2063skeptical that he will actually do so, viewing it as a brand-building exercise.<\/p>\n<h3>The NRSC&#8217;s Dilemma<\/h3>\n<p>The NRSC is concerned\u200c about dissuading a contender like Mayer, who has significant financial \u200dresources, from entering the race. Sen. Steve Daines, the chairman of the Senate campaign arm, has \u200cpublicly expressed\u2062 his preference for Hovde and discouraged \u200cMayer from running. However, Mayer remains undeterred, stating that the NRSC&#8217;s endorsement does\u200c not determine the \u2063outcome of the election.<\/p>\n<h3>Avoiding\u200d a Costly\u2062 Primary<\/h3>\n<p>Republicans are \u200bkeen \u2062to avoid a damaging and costly primary that could strengthen Sen. Baldwin&#8217;s position \u2063for the general election. Brian Schimming, the \u200dchairman of the\u200b Wisconsin GOP, has been urging Republicans to \u2062rally around a\u2064 single candidate to\u2063 prevent a repeat \u2063of past losses. While\u200c he speaks\u200c highly\u200d of \u200cHovde, \u200bhe\u2064 does\u200c not have a preference \u200din the race and wants to avoid a contentious primary.<\/p>\n<h3>Hovde vs. Mayer: Two Different Candidates<\/h3>\n<p>Hovde and Mayer would both position themselves as \u200boutsider candidates with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dobbs-victory-is-more-complicated-and-more-fragile-than-many-realize\/\" title=\"Dobbs\u2019 Victory Is More Complicated \u2014 And More Fragile \u2014 Than Many Realize\">successful business careers<\/a> in a GOP primary. However, there are differences\u2064 that make them distinct in the eyes\u200d of national Republicans. Hovde&#8217;s\u200b financial commitment,\u200c potentially in the eight figures, would allow the party to allocate more \u2063resources to other competitive Senate races. Mayer, on the other \u200bhand, is \u2062more reluctant to self-fund and is \u200drelying\u200b on his connections in the\u2062 business community for\u2063 financial support.<\/p>\n<p>As the race heats up, the\u2064 NRSC is closely watching\u200b the developments and hoping to \u200davoid a costly primary battle. With Hovde&#8217;s likely entry \u200cinto \u2063the race, \u2062the chances of a contested primary increase, posing \u2063challenges for Republicans as they seek to unseat Sen. Baldwin.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u200b Who\u200b is State Sen.\u200c Dale Kooyenga and what makes him the anti-establishment \u200dcandidate in the Wisconsin \u2063Senate race?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u2062 State Sen. Dale Kooyenga, who has also expressed interest in challenging Sen. Baldwin. Kooyenga, a veteran and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cuomo-to-partially-reopen-indoor-dining-in-nyc-for-valentines-day-if-positivity-rates-hold\/\" title=\"Cuomo To Partially Reopen Indoor Dining In NYC For Valentine\u2019s Day, \u2018If Positivity Rates Hold\u2019\">small business owner<\/a>, has \u200b<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-ravens-center-matt-birk-to-run-for-lt-gov-in-minnesota\/\" title=\"Former Ravens Center Matt Birk to Run for Lt. Gov in Minnesota\">strong conservative credentials<\/a> and has already begun positioning himself as the anti-establishment candidate in the \u200crace. With his grassroots support and\u2062 focus on\u200b issues such as lower taxes and limited government, Kooyenga could potentially shake up the Republican primary.<\/p>\n<h3>The Importance of the\u2063 Wisconsin \u2063Senate Race<\/h3>\n<p>The\u2063 2024 Senate race in Wisconsin is crucial for Republicans. Sen. Baldwin,\u2064 a staunch liberal, has consistently voted in line with the Democratic \u200cParty&#8217;s agenda. Republicans\u2062 see\u200d an opportunity to flip this seat and gain a critical vote in\u2064 the Senate. With a slim Democratic \u200cmajority in the \u2064chamber, every seat\u2062 counts, and \u200dWisconsin is a key battleground state.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, \u2064Wisconsin \u2064has been historically competitive in recent \u2062elections. Former President Donald Trump narrowly \u2063won the state in 2016, and the\u200d 2020 presidential race was also closely contested. Republicans \u2064believe that a strong \u200bcandidate can resonate with Wisconsin voters and secure a victory in the Senate race.<\/p>\n<h3>The Road Ahead<\/h3>\n<p>As the potential candidates for the Republican nomination\u2063 start to emerge, the \u2062NRSC must navigate the \u2064dynamic landscape of a \u200ccontested primary. The party&#8217;s goal is to find a candidate who can appeal\u200b to \u200ba broad range of voters, unite the\u200d Republican base, and effectively \u2064challenge Sen.\u200d Baldwin in the \u200cgeneral \u2064election.<\/p>\n<p>With Hovde, Mayer, and Kooyenga all vying for the nomination, the primary race is shaping up to \u2064be a \u2062fierce competition. Each\u200c candidate \u200bbrings \u200ctheir own strengths and unique\u2063 appeal, \u200cpresenting\u2063 Republicans with a difficult choice. The NRSC \u200cwill likely play\u2064 a \u200ccrucial role in vetting the \u200dcandidates and ensuring that the eventual nominee is well-positioned for victory.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of\u200d who ultimately emerges as the\u2062 Republican candidate, one thing\u2062 is certain:\u2062 the Wisconsin Senate race will be closely watched and\u2062 fiercely\u200d contested. The\u200c outcome of this race could have significant implications for the \u2063balance of power in the Senate and the direction of the country. As the candidates prepare for their campaigns, all eyes will\u200b be on \u2062Wisconsin in the upcoming election cycle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>National Republicans have identified a strong contender to oppose Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in Wisconsin. Businessman Eric Hovde is likely to announce his candidacy in early 2024, following extensive efforts by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. THE OBAMA FACTOR: WOULD BARACK BACK GAVIN<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2112008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2112007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2112007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2112007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2112007\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2112008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2112007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2112007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2112007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}