Tammy Baldwin calls game, in beating Republican Hovde for Wisconsin US Senate seat

At 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, Democratic US Sen. Tammy Baldwin is calling game.

With counts in Milwaukee County going late into the night and early into the morning, Baldwin votes kept coming in, making up ground on Republican Eric Hovde.

With 98.2% reported, Baldwin called the race with a 26,181 vote lead — having 49.3% of the vote to Hovde’s 48.6%.

Third-party candidates were a deciding factor. Independent Phil Anderson got 41,915 votes — 1.3% — and Thomas Leager received 28,419 (.9%) votes.

In La Crosse County, Baldwin beat Hovde by 11.9%. Baldwin had 8,519 more votes than her Republican challenger.

Baldwin put out a statement at 4:35 a.m.

“The voters have spoken and our campaign has won,” she wrote. “Wisconsinites chose someone who always puts them first, shows up, listens, and works with everyone to get the job done. I’m proud to head back to the Senate to keep fighting for our workers, farmers, and families that make our state great.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”