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Eric Hovde continued to question vote-by-mail votes breaking for his opponent but acknowledged a recount would not likely change the results of the election.
Out Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s opponent finally conceded his loss nearly two weeks after the general election.
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Eric Hovde, the Republican challenging Baldwin, released a video online Monday where he acknowledges his defeat and makes clear he will not legally challenge results. While he continued to question the integrity of many votes cast, he said a recount was unlikely to change the results of the election.
“I have heard from numerous supporters urging me to challenge the election results. However, without a detailed review of all the ballots and their legitimacy, which will be difficult to obtain in the courts, a request for a recount would serve no purpose, because you will just be recounting the same ballots, regardless of their integrity,” Hovde said.
“As a result, and my desire to not add to political strife through a contentious recount, I've decided to concede the election.”
National media outlets including The Advocate reported Baldwin's win within 24 hours of polls closing in the November 5 General Election. The Associated Press called the election for Baldwin at 1:42 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6. Baldwin shortly after posted “Thank you, Wisconsin” on her social media.
At this point, 99 percent of all votes in the state have been counted, and Baldwin leads by more than 29,000 votes out of more than 3.3 million cast. That puts the Democrat’s lead at less than one percentage point.
But Hovde had refused to concede and instead alleged irregularities in the election. Last week, he posted an online video saying he was ahead in votes until a drop of absentee ballots in Milwaukee. Those broke 9-to-1 for Baldwin, while Election Day ballots in the city broke 8-to-1 for the Democrat.
Nationwide, vote-by-mail ballots have skewed Democrat for years, especially since Donald Trump started disparaging the practice before the 2020 elections. Regardless, any effort to “steal” the election in Wisconsin would have to be one that ignored the presidential election, as Trump this year won Wisconsin’s electoral votes by almost 30,000 votes.
Baldwin’s campaign said Hovde should have conceded the race days ago.
“Eric Hovde has stooped as low as a politician can go: sowing doubt about our very democracy,” Baldwin spokesman Andrew Mamo said in a statement. “Leaders on both sides of the aisle should condemn the lies he’s spreading and the pathetic campaign he continues to run. Tammy Baldwin has won this race and there is only one thing for Eric Hovde to do: concede.”
The statement was released through Democracy Docket, a blog run by Democratic election attorney Marc Elias. Experts at Elias’ firm said Hovde had the ability under Wisconsin law to request a recount. The firm also notes Wisconsin does not allow counting of ballots before other states, which was the reason mail ballots were counted hours after polls closed.
Regardless, Hovde acknowledged any effort to challenge the integrity of ballots cast would be fruitless at this point.
“Obviously the outcome is not what I had hoped for. But I do not regret entering this race,” he said. “I'm passionate about our country and the future we are leaving our children and grandchildren. The issues I have raised have resonated with many.”
Hovde during the campaign attacked Baldwin’s lesbian partner and lied about the senator’s position on gender-affirming care.
