Eric Hovde concedes Wisconsin Senate race, cites 'disheartening' tactics



Republican challenger Eric Hovde conceded the race to Democratic incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin on Monday.

Hovde lost to the two-term incumbent by less than a percent, the AP called on November 6. Given the slim margins of the race, Hovde did not concede the race until over a week later.

'What is disheartening are the tactics used against me in this race.'

"Nine months ago, I entered the race for the U.S. Senate because I love our country and I am deeply concerned about its direction," Hovde said in a video posted to X.

"The results from election night were disappointing, particularly in light of the last-minute absentee ballots that were dropped in Milwaukee at 4 a.m., flipping the outcome," Hovde said.

"I have heard from numerous supporters urging me to challenge the election results," Hovde said. "However, without a detailed review of all the ballots and their legitimacy, which will be difficult to obtain in the courts, the request for a recount would serve no purpose because you will just be recounting the same ballots regardless of their integrity. As a result, and my desire to not add to the political strife through a contentious recount, I decided to concede the election."

Although Hovde ultimately conceded, he pointed to several tactics Democrats used that he said worked to "deceive" and "mislead" voters. Notably, Democratic operatives emboldened libertarian candidate Phillip Anderson and America First candidate Thomas Leager, who collectively drew in over 70,000 votes.

"I am proud that we received more than 1.64 million votes, more than any Republican in Wisconsin history aside from President Trump's total on Tuesday night," Hovde said. "Furthermore, if not for Democratic operatives placing a phony America First candidate on the ballot to deceive voters and siphon off over 28,000 votes, I would have won this race."

"Democratic operatives also supported a libertarian candidate through mail and other sources without his knowledge to strip votes away from me," Hovde continued. "Are these actions to deceive and mislead voters strengthening and protecting our democracy? Any fair-minded person would say no."

Hovde also described several "disheartening" tactics used against him in the race. Hovde detailed the protests that took place outside his home before he even entered the race, mentioned "phony" lawsuits launched against his companies, and the millions of dollars' worth of ads that made "false claims" about him.

"Senator Baldwin's campaign focused on getting voters to hate me," Hovde said.

"Sadly, our current political system is broken," Hovde continued. "Instead of candidates debating issues and addressing voters concerns, campaigns are now about raising money, often from special interest groups, and launching attack ads with no basis in truth."

Hovde closed his message by thanking his supporters and outlining his plan to move forward.

"After running from morning to night for nine months and leaving it all on the field, I will take a much-needed break, then return to my businesses and foundation and find other ways to make a positive impact," Hovde said. "One thing is certain. I will always fight for the country and state that I love and work to restore the American dream. Thank you."

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Bob Casey refuses to concede Pennsylvania seat to Dave McCormick



Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania has not yet conceded the race to Republican challenger Dave McCormick, despite multiple outlets calling the race in the GOP's favor.

McCormick was announced as the winner on Thursday by outlets like Politico and the Associated Press, as well as many local publications, confirming his narrow victory. Pennsylvania was one of four seats that were flipped by Republicans, as well as seats in Ohio, West Virginia, and Montana.

Despite the widely acknowledged McCormick win, Casey has refused to admit defeat.

"I have dedicated my life to making sure Pennsylvanians’ voices are heard, whether on the floor of the Senate or in a free and fair election," Casey said in a post on X following the election results. "It has been made clear there are more than 100,000 votes still to be counted. Pennsylvania is where our democratic process was born."

'What happened to all the demands that our leaders accept the outcome of the elections?'

"We must allow that process to play out and ensure that every vote that is eligible to be counted will be counted," Casey continued. "That is what Pennsylvania deserves."

Every social media post on his campaign account since then has been about continuing to count the ballots, even though McCormick was already declared the victor.

"Our Commonwealth ran a free and fair election, and we are still waiting on the final results," Casey said in a Monday post on X. "Our election officials will continue counting ballots and ensure that Pennsylvanians’ voices are heard."

Casey was not the only Senate Democrat to take issue with McCormick's election. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer initially withheld McCormick's invitation to the Senate orientation, prompting a critical response from his Republican colleagues.

"Schumer is not allowing [McCormick] to participate in Senate orientation this week because Casey refuses to concede the race," Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said in a Sunday post on X. "What happened to all the demands that our leaders accept the outcome of the elections?"

"Sen. Schumer is refusing to allow [McCormick] to participate in Senate orientation next week even though the race has been called," Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri said in a post on X. "Chuck is an 'election denier' and this is an 'assault on our democracy.'"

Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah also floated the idea of escorting McCormick to the Capitol alongside other GOP Senators. Since then, Schumer has extended the invitation to McCormick, who attended Senate orientation Tuesday.

At the time of this writing, Casey has still not conceded the race.

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Republicans flip fourth Senate seat, this time in Pennsylvania



Republican challenger Dave McCormick narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania on Thursday.

McCormick won the seat with 48.9%of the vote while Casey managed to secure 48.5%, according to Politico. Pennsylvania is the fourth Senate seat Republicans have flipped this election cycle, alongside Montana, West Virginia, and Ohio.

Republicans now hold the majority in the Senate with 53 seats while Democrats hold 45 seats. The Nevada and Arizona Senate races have not been called yet.

Casey has served as one of Pennsylvania's two senators since he was first elected in 2006, winning his three elections by substantial margins. This time around, McCormick was able to overcome Casey's nearly eight-point lead in August and turn it into a 0.4-point loss in November.

These polling numbers sounded the alarm for Casey's campaign in the weeks leading up to the election. Casey refocused his campaign to moderate his policies and distance himself from his party, even running a pro-Trump ad and calling himself an "independent."

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Two-term Democratic incumbent fends off Republican challenger in Wisconsin Senate race



Democratic incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin narrowly won re-election Wednesday against Republican challenger Eric Hovde.

Baldwin secured 49.4% of the vote, while Hovde brought in 48.5%, according to Politico. Although Democrats held on to the contested Wisconsin seat, Republicans have already managed to flip three seats, securing their Senate majority.

Although Baldwin has won her seat by comfortable margins in the past, this race was much narrower.

"The voters have spoken and our campaign has won," Baldwin said in a Wednesday post on X. "Wisconsinites chose someone who always puts them first, shows up, listens, and works with everyone to get the job done. I'm proud to head back to the Senate to keep fighting for our workers, farmers, and families that make our state great."

Although Baldwin has won her seat by comfortable margins in the past, this race was much narrower. Leading up to the race, Hovde closed in on Baldwin's lead, turning her near eight-point advantage from July into less than a single-point victory on Election Day.

While the votes were being counted, Hovde expressed skepticism about the election's integrity.

"We’re watching the final precinct results come in," Hovde said in a Wednesday post on X. "We’re certainly disappointed that the Democrats’ effort to siphon votes with a fraudulent candidate had a significant impact on the race, with those votes making up more than the entire margin of the race right now. We will continue to monitor returns and make sure that every vote is counted."

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North Carolina Called For Trump In First Swing-State Victory Of Election Night

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-05-at-11.25.53 PM-1200x675.png crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-05-at-11.25.53%5Cu202fPM-1200x675.png%22%7D" expand=1]The AP has called North Carolina for former President Donald Trump, marking the first swing-state win of election night.

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'We are unambiguously calling on Milwaukee’s officials to do their jobs'

Will Hurricane Helene aftermath prove to be the difference in North Carolina?



Just 21 days before the start of early voting, Hurricane Helene delivered biblical-level destruction to the hills, hollows, and mountains of North Carolina. The massive storm brought devastating floods that killed 232 people — half of them in this state — and buried entire riverside communities in rivers of mud.

Now, residents struggle for basic supplies. More than 2,500 families are homeless. Crowded shelters are well above capacity. Hundreds of road and bridge closures are disrupting transportation and the delivery of crucial aid.

One-fifth of the state’s 7.3 million registered voters reside in the disaster area. Are candidate visits and pledges of support resonating with voters?

Two days after the storm, Gov. Roy Cooper requested a major disaster declaration from the federal government in order to surge assistance to state and local agencies and provide immediate relief to suffering North Carolinians. FEMA claimed in a news release that it sent 25 trailer loads of food and 60 trailer loads of water to North Carolina. But Hendersonville resident Andrea Corn says she has not seen a state or federal worker yet.

After the storm, Corn — a 55-year-old accountant who is more accustomed to preparing tax forms for local businesses than organizing relief missions — formed an ATV group to rescue elderly victims in Henderson County. Most roads and bridges had crumbled or washed away, and many folks could be reached only by going off-road.

Andrea and her husband, a volunteer fireman, brought supplies to victims stranded in remote “hollers.” Many residents were without power for more than a month following Helene’s visit. Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian charity, distributed solar-powered lights to light the dark nights.

Abandoned by the state

Well before the storm hit, these Western North Carolina mountain towns were imbued with a culture of self-reliance. Residents call it “WNC Strong.” But in the wake of Helene, residents needed critical help that only government can supply: large-scale search and rescue operations, power and water restoration, and infrastructure repair.

Today, many of these residents feel abandoned by state and federal government officials. One question looming over the recovery efforts is whether it will impact voting behavior in Tuesday’s elections. “They are supposed to stand up for us, and we feel forgotten,” Corn said. “We’re going to need lots of money to recover, and our government is sending it to Ukraine.”

Chuck Edwards, Republican congressman representing Western North Carolina, said state emergency officials cannot account for the whereabouts of 400 pallets of FEMA-supplied food and water meant for hurricane relief. He has requested 1,180 FEMA trailers to house thousands of displaced people.

In Buncombe County, local artist and photographer Anna Hitrova said that volunteers — not government workers — brought her necessary supplies after the storm. “The only people I’ve seen on the ground in Buncombe,” she said, “are churches and Samaritan’s Purse.”

Hitrova said she had a “black-pilled moment” when she drove through neighboring Swannanoa. She saw families camping on the lots where their homes once stood. They were without generators, phones, or anything else. “It was a shock; I was crying,” she explained. “It hit me how bad it was to be cut off from the world. The government waited to respond while people were dying.”

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has reported that most of the state’s deaths were in Buncombe County, home of Asheville and Swannanoa. “When I found out that FEMA had used money for housing illegal migrants and saw our government giving billions to Ukraine while families were getting $750, I was furious,” said Hitrova.

Some assistance came from unlikely sources. Billionaire Elon Musk, for instance, stepped up to help. The SpaceX CEO donated 500 Starlink internet receivers to groups across the devastated area. Musk’s donation came after the urging of local state Rep. Danny Britt and former President Donald Trump.

“Here, people had lost their homes and had nothing, but they had painted signs that read ‘God Bless Elon,’” Hitrova said. “I realized that Elon gave these people a lifeline that the government could not.”

Election Day implications

North Carolina is a key battleground state with 16 electoral votes. Trump won the state narrowly in 2016 and by an even smaller margin in 2020. The current RCP average has the former president leading by only 1.5 points. Both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have visited the storm-ravaged region while campaigning.

During her Oct. 5 visit, Harris met with Asheville’s mayor and leaders of progressive groups such as NC Counts. After attending a local FEMA briefing, the vice president praised state and federal workers for the “nobility of their work and their calling.”

Two weeks later, Trump appeared at an Asheville recovery site flanked by Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, an area native, and numerous North Carolina politicians and local business owners.

The former president said the American people were the real heroes of the recovery efforts and that the state and local governments had let storm victims down. Trump said he had come to express a simple message to the region: “I’m with you, and the American people are with you all the way.”

One-fifth of the state’s 7.3 million registered voters reside in the disaster area. Are the visits and pledges of support resonating with voters? In Henderson, a predominantly red county, it appears so. “I was shocked to see the level of highly motivated people out here voting this year despite their difficulties,” said Henderson County GOP Chair Brett Calloway.

Andrea Corn said that access to voting was the number-one concern for Helene victims. “Some folks needed food, others had lost their home, and the first thing they were asking about was voting,” she said. “It was truly all that mattered for them.” Some residents told her they hadn't voted in two decades.

Corn recently closed her accounting office so that her employees could help staff election sites. Calloway also says people are eager to help in the election campaign. A week after the storm, a man came into the GOP office to ask about volunteering. “I’ll have to do it around my wife’s funeral,” the teary-eyed man said. “My country needs me.”

As of Friday, nearly 58% of registered voters in the county had cast their vote. Turnout this year is 19% higher than in 2020. “Many of the voters we’re seeing are on the inactive voter rolls,” says Calloway. “Only 7% of our voters are Election Day voters, so there is no danger of Election Day votes being cannibalized,” he said.

By Friday morning, 3.7 million North Carolinians had voted, surpassing the 2020 early voting total. Later, the State Board of Elections reported over 4 million votes cast in 2024, with over half of registered voters participating.

“This year, voting is a symbolic act for me,” declared Anna Hitrova. A onetime Democrat who now publicly identifies as a conservative activist, she says she has “given up” on the current government. “I am going to vote, I am going to vote for Trump, and I am going to do it on the first day of early voting in the progressive city of Asheville.”

Editor’s note:This article was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire.

Crucial demographics may hold the key to a Trump victory as race tightens



Key voting blocs that have voted reliably blue are underperforming compared to previous election cycles, which could send warning signs to Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign. At the same time, increased turnout from some reliably red demographics could give former President Donald Trump the edge he needs.

One of the most glaring disadvantages for Democrats going into the election is the comparatively low turnout from urban voters. At this point in the race, there is a 12.8-point deficit in urban voter turnout across battlegrounds compared to 2020. Rural voter turnout is comparatively higher, with just a 3.9-point difference.

This could be particularly harmful for Democrats this election cycle, given that the majority of urban voters are Democratic and a majority of rural voters are Republican.

Although early voter turnout looks rosy for the Trump camp, the race is still too close to call.

"Regardless of how we slice and dice the demographics, rural voters are going to be very supportive of the former president," Jon McHenry, a GOP polling analyst and vice president at North Star Opinion Research, told Blaze News. "Urban voters won't vote in lockstep, but they will be disproportionately in support of Kamala Harris, so that demographic turnout is going to matter."

There is also a partisan divide between male and female voters, as men tend to lean more Republican while women lean more Democratic. Although women vote in greater numbers than men do, they are underperforming this election cycle, which could throw a wrench into Harris' chances.

"It's not just a 'get out the vote rally.' It's a 'you've got to vote because of X, Y, and Z," McHenry told Blaze News. "There's definitely a bit more urgency than what we would normally see from Democrats at this stage of the race."

Women voters dipped down by 7.9 points across swing states compared to 2020, while men dipped down by seven points. Even though more women have voted than men, their deficit combined with slipping male support could put Harris' campaign in jeopardy.

Declines in black and Hispanic votes could also put Harris in trouble. Compared to 2020, there is a 10.1-point turnout deficit among black voters in battlegrounds and an 11.7-point decline among Latino voters. Given that both Hispanic and black voters have overwhelmingly voted for Democrats in the past, this decline could threaten Harris' campaign.

Harris has certainly taken notice of this trend. Over the past month, her campaign has released a tailored "opportunity agenda" for both black and Hispanic men.

"The idea that there's this sort of opportunity agenda targeted at specific demographics, and the fact that Kamala Harris has drafted Barack Obama to turn out black males and essentially extending her reach to get people to turn out, shows that they're definitely concerned about getting the traditional Democratic base out to the polls," McHenry told Blaze News.

Although early voter turnout looks rosy for the Trump camp, the race is still too close to call.

"Like most poker players would say, just give me one of the hands, and I'll beat you with that," McHenry told Blaze News. "Honestly, it really is so close that it's hard to say."

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Swing state mailbox vandalized, absentee ballots missing: Report



A USPS mailbox in Michigan was vandalized over the weekend, potentially affecting local voters who had cast an absentee ballot, a new report from WZZM claims.

Sometime between 11 a.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. on Monday, someone apparently vandalized the mailbox outside the post office in Twin Lake, a rural area of Michigan about 45 minutes north of Grand Rapids.

'The good news is we have time before the election.'

What's worse, at least two local residents claimed to have deposited absentee ballots in the mailbox, but officials could not locate those votes.

Blue Lake Township Clerk Jeff Abram told WZZM he did not even learn about the apparent vandalism until a resident contacted him about his absentee ballot.

"I had a voter come into my office yesterday and said he deposited his ballot in the Twin Lake post office box that was outside the collection box, and he wanted to know if I had his ballot yet," Abram explained.

Just 10 minutes later, another resident came inquiring about an absentee ballot that had been deposited in the mailbox. Abram said he could not find either ballot.

Abram added that no one knows the motive behind the alleged crime or how much mail might be missing.

"I hope it's not to get the ballots. Again, we don't know what kind of mail was taken or how much was taken, but I do know that I do have two constituents that didn't get their ballots," he reiterated.

Abram confirmed to the outlet that he spoiled the ballots of the two residents who contacted him and issued them new ones.

He and other area clerks worry that other absentee voters, unaware of the allegedly stolen mail, might be affected. Anyone who placed an absentee ballot in that mailbox during that 46-hour window is urged to track their ballots online or call their local clerk so that they won't be disenfranchised.

"There are also two neighboring townships that use that post office branch as well. They too should contact their respective clerks to see the status of their ballot," Abrams said in a statement to Blaze News.

"The good news is we have time before the election if we need to spoil their current ballot and reissue them another ballot before the November 5 election," he added.

Whether any suspects in the case have been identified is unclear.

Blaze News reached out to the Twin Lake postmaster, who directed us to the U.S. Postal Service media contact. Blaze News was then redirected twice more. The final USPS source Blaze News contacted did not respond to a request for comment.

H/T: Gateway Pundit

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'Something That the Feds Really Need To Look At': Liberal Dark Money Network Sends Inaccurate Election Texts to Voters Across US

A progressive group funded by anti-Trump billionaire Reid Hoffman and other Democratic heavyweights is behind a rash of misleading text messages stoking concerns about voter suppression across the country, a Washington Free Beacon investigation has found.

The post 'Something That the Feds Really Need To Look At': Liberal Dark Money Network Sends Inaccurate Election Texts to Voters Across US appeared first on .