Democrats Sounding ‘Alarm Bells’ Over Holding Senate Seat In Battleground State: Report

Democratic strategists are starting to have “alarm bells” about retaining Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin’s seat in November as polls show her lead over Republican challenger Eric Hovde diminishing. 

Axios reported Thursday that there is “growing fear” among Democrats about Baldwin’s re-election campaign as her lead in internal polls has shrunk to just two points. According to the report, strategists believe the race is much closer than some polls indicate. 

“Tammy Baldwin and her allies are panicking because momentum is on our side and they know we can WIN this race,” Hovde posted on X in response to the report. 

A recent survey by the Cook Political Report also found Baldwin, vying for her third Senate term, with just a two-point lead. In the poll, Baldwin held a 49%-47% lead, a large drop from her seven-point lead in their previous poll. 

“Both sides have largely consolidated their bases, and Baldwin leads among independent voters 50%-42%, though that’s an 11-point move toward Hovde since August,” Cook reported

Hovde and Baldwin are set to debate on October 18 in Madison, just weeks before Election Day. 

The Democratic fears come as Hovde has benefited from a recent influx of cash backing his campaign. The Republican Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC linked to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), is committing $17 million to elect Hovde. 

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With Democrats currently holding a 51-49 advantage in the Senate, both parties are gearing up for what is expected to be a tight battle for the majority. Republicans are currently expected to pick up seats in West Virginia and Montana, while races in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin are all expected to be competitive. 

The Republican Senate Leadership Fund recently put $28 million into Pennsylvania and $22.5 million in Michigan to back the GOP candidates in its latest cash infusion.

Former President Donald Trump is also focusing much of his attention on those same battleground states and currently trails Vice President Kamala Harris by about 0.8 percentage points in Wisconsin, according to an average of polls. Harris campaigned in Ripon on Thursday, while Trump is set to hold a rally in Juneau on Sunday.