in Wisconsin tight race for US SenateRepublican Eric Hovde has focused much of his final message on attacking the financial race from Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin’s girlfriend, highlighting their same-sex relationship.

In a series of television ads in the final stretch of the election, the Hovde campaign has repeatedly mentioned Maria Brisbane, referring to her as Baldwin’s “life partner” or his “girlfriend.” Baldwin publicly refers to Brisbane as his girlfriend.

One such an advertisementfrom Hovde’s campaign and a joint fundraising committee, features a woman who identifies as a Wisconsin resident criticizing Baldwin for being “in bed with Wall Street.”

“While she sleeps in her girlfriend’s million-dollar condo in New York City, Wisconsin families are hit by high inflation and handouts to illegal immigrants.”

“Tammy and her girlfriend live large, while Wisconsin families foot the bill,” the woman adds.

Another Hovde campaign ad features a narrator who talks about Baldwin’s relationship with Brisbane.

“This is Senator Tammy Baldwin,” the narrator says. “This is her life partner, Maria Brisbane, a Wall Street executive who makes millions advising the super-rich how to make money from the industries Tammy regulates.”

“Tammy doesn’t come home to Wisconsin most weekends. “I would rather be in New York, in María’s $7 million condo,” the narrator adds.

In total, seven of the 34 Republican television ads that aired over the past month in the Wisconsin race, which will help determine the balance of power in the Senate, have referenced Baldwin’s girlfriend, according to the firm. AdImpact tracking. The number of times those seven ads have aired represents more than a quarter of all anti-Baldwin Republican television broadcasts over the past month.

Baldwin became the first openly gay woman elected to Congress in 1998 and the first openly gay candidate elected to the United States Senate in 2012. Brisbane is a private wealth advisor for an affiliate of Morgan Stanley. Baldwin and Brisbane have been dating since 2018.

Baldwin, now running for a third term in the Senate, has said the attacks are designed to distract from his record.

“This kind of thing is generally considered prohibited in politics, right? “Talk about people’s personal lives, their family members,” Baldwin said during a recent appearance on the show “Andrea Mitchell Reports.”

“Eric Hovde is desperately trying to distract us from his true vulnerabilities and conflicts of interest,” he added.

Hovde, a billionaire businessman and bank owner, has also echoed some of the attacks in his ads along the way.

in your debate last monththe only one of the cycle, Hovde repeatedly criticized Baldwin’s relationship with Brisbane, saying at one point: “I’m the one who’s against Big Pharma. What you oversee is your Wall Street partner who invests in Big Pharma.”

At another point during the Oct. 18 debate, Baldwin responded by saying, “Eric Hovde should stay out of my personal life, and I think I speak for the majority of Wisconsin women that he should stay out of my personal life.” all our personal lives.”

Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a speech Tuesday from the Ellipse near the White House.

In a statement responding to questions about the strategy to highlight Baldwin’s relationship, Hovde campaign spokesman Zach Bannon said: “We agree with Tammy Baldwin’s 2009 version and any efforts to distract from “The facts of this conflict of interest is a disservice to the people of Wisconsin who deserve transparency.”

Bannon’s statement refers to a recent CNN report about comments Baldwin made in 2009 saying that legal domestic partners of gay and lesbian officials should face the same annual financial disclosure requirements as heterosexual married couples.

“All members of Congress file annual financial statements. Married members must submit very important information about their spouses’ income, their investments, gifts and debts, etc. Surely, the public interest would require that these obligations also apply to partners of gay and lesbian officials,” Baldwin said during a 2009 congressional hearing.

Baldwin and Brisbane are not married nor are they legal domestic partners. Additionally, Baldwin does not serve on any committee (e.g., the Senate Banking or Finance committees) that would regulate Wall Street issues.

Baldwin campaign officials and LGBTQ rights organizations said Hovde’s lines of attack amounted to a cynical ploy by Republicans.

“Senator. “Baldwin’s sexual orientation is not on the ballot, and ads like this once again reveal his opponent’s hostility toward LGBTQ people,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “Senator. “Baldwin has never hidden who he is from his constituents and has a proven record of promoting equality and prosperity for all in Wisconsin and across the country.”

Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ rights group, added in a statement: “Wisconsinians want a proven leader with a track record of solving problems. That leader is Tammy Baldwin.”

“Eric Hovde has done little more than sow hatred and division, including disgraceful catcalls and attacks against Senator Baldwin,” Robinson added.

The human rights campaign has endorsed Baldwin in the race. GLAAD did not make a formal endorsement but has voter resource guides published that climax each candidate’s record on LGBTQ issues.

Baldwin campaign spokesman Andrew Mamo said in a statement: “Eric Hovde has invested his fortune in one of the darkest and most divisive campaigns in Wisconsin history.”

“Wisconsinians will reject Hovde because they know Tammy Baldwin will show up, listen and work with anyone to get the job done,” he added.

Hovde and his allies have also run several ads targeting Baldwin over transgender issues that mirror those the former president has aired across the country. donald trump and on behalf of other Republican Senate candidates.

Hovde’s advertisements include one that falsely accuses Baldwin of “fund a clinic that offers transgender therapy for minors without parental consent” and another who accuses her of helping to fund a nonprofit that “pushes an aggressive LGBTQ agenda among children without parental involvement.”

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed trick-or-treaters to the White House for a Halloween-themed event on Wednesday.

The ads come amid a bitter race through battleground states that has escalated in its final weeks and featured many personal attacks.

Baldwin and outside Democratic groups have stood out where Hovde has lived for a large part California in recent years. Hovde has also frequently attacked Baldwin as an out-of-touch career politician.

Bridget Bowman contributed.

This article first appeared in NBCNews.com. Read more from NBC News here: