Rural voters key in Wisconsin senate race

Economic and social issues shape Wisconsin's Senate race.

Senator Tammy Baldwin's re-election campaign in Wisconsin faces a serious challenge from banker Eric Hovde. Baldwin, known for her ability to connect with rural voters, is focusing on economic issues important to farmers and residents in less-populated areas.

She has highlighted her work to cap insulin costs and secure mental health resources for farmers, along with pushing for infrastructure projects that use American-made products.

Baldwin is also navigating a political landscape where her alignment with President Biden is carefully balanced. She has avoided appearing with Biden on campaign stops but joined Vice President Harris for a rally, signaling her cautious approach in a battleground state.

A key group in this race is suburban women, especially those focused on abortion access, a critical issue since a state Supreme Court race earlier this year showed the importance of this topic in Wisconsin politics.

On the other side, Hovde has positioned himself as a business leader who can tackle inflation and fix the economy, which he claims Baldwin's policies have worsened. He has criticized Baldwin's tenure as a career politician and accused her of being disconnected from Wisconsin’s rural voters. His campaign is centered on economic recovery, reducing inflation, and addressing issues like fentanyl in rural areas.

With the race intensifying, Baldwin and Hovde both understand the importance of winning over rural voters and suburban women, as Wisconsin remains a key state for control of the Senate.