In a contentious turn of events, Republican Eric Hovde has refused to concede the Wisconsin Senate race to Democrat Tammy Baldwin, alleging voter fraud after a suspicious late-night ballot dump on election night.
The Washington Examiner reported that Hovde has challenged the outcome of the recent Wisconsin Senate race, where preliminary results showed a narrow victory for incumbent Senator Tammy Baldwin.
Nearly a week after media outlets declared Baldwin the winner with 49.4% of the vote against Hovde's 48.5%, Hovde escalated his claims in a video address to his supporters.
In the video, Hovde expressed shock over the election night events, specifically criticizing the vote tallying process in Milwaukee County. He highlighted what he referred to as a "ballot dump" and insinuated misconduct.
Hovde was leading Baldwin until late at night a batch of ballots that were all in Baldwin's favor were brought in. The probability of all ballots in a batch going one way is a statistical impossibility and indicates election shenanigans.
Local election officials and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson have firmly refuted Hovde’s assertions, stating that the late counting of over 100,000 absentee ballots was a standard procedure, mandated by Wisconsin’s election laws which allow absentee ballots to be processed after polls close.
The Milwaukee Elections Commission emphasized the "expected and routine" nature of their counting delays due to the rigorous verification process they follow.
Hovde's claims further extended to the distribution of these late-reported absentee ballots, suggesting that the high percentage going to Baldwin was improbable. However, official figures showed Baldwin received 82% of these votes, consistent with her general performance across Milwaukee County.
The response from political figures and parties has varied. Milwaukee's mayor labeled Hovde’s fraud claims as "baseless," an assessment echoed by the local elections commission.
Meanwhile, Brian Schimming, chairman of the Wisconsin GOP, delicately acknowledged Hovde's defeat, although Hovde himself has wavered between accepting his loss in a radio interview and continuing to challenge the result publicly.
Senator Baldwin criticized Hovde's refusal to concede as an attack on the democratic process, urging him to acknowledge the voters’ decision. Complementarily, Republican figure Kari Lake took to social media to offer Hovde her prayers, highlighting the divided opinion on Hovde’s stance within his party.
Pursuing a recount, as Hovde has hinted, would entail significant costs. Under Wisconsin law, because his margin of loss exceeds 0.25%, he would be financially responsible for the recount expenses. This stipulation adds a financial dimension to his decision on whether to proceed with challenging the election results.
Hovde has previously enlisted the help of advisors known for their controversial views on election integrity, including Nathan Trueblood and John Eastman, though he has distanced himself from Eastman in recent statements. His final decision on pursuing legal action against the election results remains pending, as he weighs his options.
In numerous public statements, Hovde iterated his intention to review all available information before making a decision. His comments reflect a mix of disbelief and disappointment, describing the loss as the most painful of his career.
The examination of Hovde’s claims about the improbability of the absentee ballot results has not swayed state officials or election experts, who reaffirm the integrity of the counting process. Baldwin's substantial lead in absentee ballots is attributed to her widespread support in Milwaukee, a stronghold for Democrats.
Despite his continued allegations, the likelihood of a recount changing the election outcome appears slim based on historical data and expert opinions. The cost implications, combined with the slim margin of his defeat, complicate his decision-making process.