MADISON, Wis. - In the fiercely contested U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin, incumbent Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin declared victory early Wednesday morning over her Republican rival, Eric Hovde. Hovde, who received backing from President-elect Donald Trump, has not conceded and is within his rights to request a recount, given the narrow margin.

Baldwin, serving her second term, announced her victory following the tally of absentee ballots from Milwaukee, which were reported around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. Unofficial results show Baldwin leading by 0.9 percent, narrowly fitting within the 1 percent margin that allows Hovde the option of a recount if he covers the cost. "The people of Wisconsin have chosen someone who always puts Wisconsin first," Baldwin said, highlighting her commitment to bipartisanship.

Hovde, a wealthy businessman who invested millions of his own resources into the campaign, released a statement indicating his disappointment but refrained from conceding. He cited the impact of votes siphoned by Thomas Leager of the America First Party, whom he described as a “fraudulent candidate” allegedly planted by Democratic operatives. Leager's votes surpassed the margin separating Hovde from Baldwin, further complicating the race.

Despite Baldwin's apparent win, it comes against a backdrop of Republican gains elsewhere, as the GOP flipped Senate seats in Ohio and West Virginia. However, a Baldwin victory would prevent Republicans from securing both of Wisconsin's Senate seats, a significant outcome for the Democrats.

Baldwin, known for her liberal voting record, nonetheless garnered bipartisan support, including an endorsement from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, a significant accomplishment as the first statewide Democrat to do so in over two decades. In contrast, Hovde campaigned on portraying Baldwin as disconnected from major issues such as inflation, illegal immigration, and crime.

Baldwin first entered the Senate in 2012 by defeating former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson. She secured her reelection in 2018 by a wider margin of nearly 11 points. As the current race remains too close to officially call, Wisconsin may be poised for a recount, keeping the state’s voters and political observers on edge.