Eric Hovde Refuses to Concede Wisconsin Senate Race, Cites ‘Voting Inconsistencies’ Despite Projected Loss to Tammy Baldwin

November 13, 2024 — Republican Eric Hovde has refused to concede the Wisconsin Senate race to incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin, citing “voting inconsistencies” as his reason for contesting the projected outcome. With 99% of votes counted, Baldwin has 49.4% of the vote to Hovde’s 48.5%, a margin of fewer than 30,000 votes. The margin does not fall within the 0.25% threshold required by Wisconsin law for a state-funded recount, though Hovde could still request a recount if he covers the expenses himself.

In a video statement posted to his social media, Hovde expressed concerns about the integrity of the absentee ballots from Milwaukee, a Democratic stronghold where Baldwin received significant support. He called the margin between absentee and in-person votes “statistically improbable” and questioned whether they accurately reflect Milwaukee’s voter distribution. However, it’s common for absentee ballots in Milwaukee to favor Democratic candidates, as absentee voting patterns often differ from in-person trends.

Hovde also claimed that turnout in certain Milwaukee precincts appeared to exceed the number of registered voters, although Wisconsin permits same-day voter registration, which could account for the higher turnout in those areas.

Baldwin responded to Hovde’s statements, criticizing him for “spreading lies from the darkest corners of the internet to undercut our free and fair elections.” She emphasized that “Wisconsin voters made their voices heard,” calling Hovde’s refusal to concede a “disgusting attack on our democracy.”

The Milwaukee County Election Commission has also rejected Hovde’s claims, stating it “unequivocally refutes Eric Hovde’s baseless claims regarding the integrity of our election process.” According to the Commission, the election was conducted in adherence to state laws, with thorough measures to ensure accurate vote counting and ballot integrity.

Hovde’s stance has drawn comparisons to other GOP figures who have similarly contested election results, including Kari Lake, a former Arizona gubernatorial candidate who has yet to concede her 2022 loss. Lake voiced her support for Hovde, posting, “Praying for you, Eric Hovde, I’ve been there.”

While Hovde has not announced his next steps, he noted in his video that a recount would have “meaningful limits” and would not directly address what he described as the integrity concerns around absentee ballots. As Wisconsin law allows recounts outside of the 0.25% margin if the candidate pays, Hovde could move forward with a recount at his expense, though it remains unclear if he will pursue that option.

The election outcome has been certified by multiple outlets and backed by the Milwaukee County Election Commission, which maintains that Wisconsin’s election processes meet stringent standards for transparency and accuracy.