Republican candidate Eric Hovde officially conceded the Wisconsin Senate race to Sen. Tammy Baldwin on Monday. Hovde had previously acknowledged his loss but had not made a formal concession until now. The race was projected in favor of Baldwin the day after Election Day.
In a video statement released on Monday, Hovde expressed concerns about absentee ballots reported overnight in Milwaukee, which led to the reversal of his lead and solidified Baldwin's victory. Despite Hovde's reservations, Wisconsin election officials and experts have confirmed the legitimacy of the votes.
Hovde mentioned that he had received feedback from numerous supporters urging him to challenge the election results. However, he recognized the challenges of pursuing a legal challenge, stating that a recount would merely recount the same ballots regardless of their integrity.
Due to his reluctance to contribute to political discord through a contentious recount, Hovde decided to concede the election. He emphasized that he did not wish to prolong the process unnecessarily. A spokesperson for Baldwin's campaign confirmed that Hovde had not yet reached out to the senator to formally concede.
