MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s tight U.S. Senate race pits two-term Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin against Republican Eric Hovde, a millionaire businessman backed by former President Donald Trump, who invested millions of his own money in the race.

A Baldwin victory is crucial for Democrats to retain their 51-49 majority in the Senate. Democrats are defending 23 seatsincluding three in the hands of independents who meet with them. That compares with just 11 seats that Republicans hope to keep in their column.

While Baldwin’s voting record is liberal, she emphasized bipartisanship throughout the campaign. Baldwin became the first statewide Democratic candidate to earn the endorsement of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, the state’s largest agricultural organization, in more than 20 years.

Its first television ad noted that Trump signed his Buy American bill into law. In July, she touted the Senate committee’s approval of a bill she co-authored with Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, that seeks to ensure taxpayer-funded inventions are made in the United States.

Hovde attempted to portray Baldwin as an out-of-touch liberal career politician who did not do enough to combat inflation, illegal immigration, and crime.

Senator Baldwin’s campaign is scheduled for a watch party Tuesday night at the Orpheum Theater in Madison.

Senator Baldwin did not vote on Tuesday because she voted just a few weeks ago. Baldwin met with students at UW-Madison’s Library Mall earlier in the day, as well as in Milwaukee alongside Gov. Tony Evers.

She is counting on the university vote to win him another term.

“What we have to do tonight is appeal to those voters who know that I may agree with Tammy Baldwin on some, almost all issues, but I trust her, she respects me, I respect her and I want to see her back.” in the Senate.” said Baldwin campaign communications director Andrew Mamo.

Hovde is working to reach undecided voters. He said it’s up to citizens to get up and go to their local polls. He encouraged anyone who has not yet voted to bring someone with them to the polls.

“It’s a little surreal. I entered this race 9 months ago, I ran from morning to night, I gave it my all and I feel good, and I received a lot of positive comments and reactions, and I hope that voters decide to show up and vote for me.” Hovde said.

Hovde voted early on Oct. 22 in Shorewood Hills with his wife.

During the final weeks of his campaign, he went on a bus tour called “Time For Change,” making more than 20 stops in six days. He spent the day before Tuesday campaigning at a phone bank in Sun Prairie and in Waukesha to talk to voters.

About 4 in 10 Wisconsin voters said the economy and jobs are the top issues facing the country, according to AP VoteCast, a large survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide, including more than 3,400 voters in Wisconsin. About 2 in 10 Wisconsin voters said immigration is the most pressing issue, and more than 1 in 10 mentioned abortion.

Hovde’s wealth, primarily his management of Utah-based Sunwest Bank and ownership of a $7 million property in Laguna Beach, California, has been a key line of attack for Baldwin, who has tried to portray him as an outsider. who does not represent Wisconsin. values.

Baldwin also attacked Hovde for his opposition to abortion rights.

Hovde said he supported overturning Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court in 2022, but said he would not vote for a federal law banning abortion, leaving it up to states to decide. This is a change of position from his last Senate bid in 2012, when he “totally opposed” abortion.

Baldwin’s television ads addressed the ongoing theme of Hovde insulting farmers, elderly residents, parents, and others. Hovde, who was born in Madison and owns a home there, accused Baldwin of distorting his comments, lying about his record and misleading voters.

Baldwin won his first Senate race in 2012, against popular former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson, by nearly 6 percentage points. Hovde lost to Thompson in the primary that year.

Hovde attacked Baldwin for holding elected office since 1987, including the last 12 years in the Senate and 14 in the House before that.

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