Senate Republicans back Eric Hovde to oust Sen. Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin

Senate Republicans have their sights set on Wisconsin, a state that will serve as a battleground for the presidential and Senate elections in November.

According to The Hill, as Republican senators prepare to make a strong push to gain majority control of the upper chamber in November, they're going all-in on backing Eric Hovde, a Madison-based businessman.

The outlet noted that Hovde is "far and wide" the biggest Republican threat to unseating Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in November.

The outlet noted:

Multiple sources indicated he will launch his bid in February, with one source familiar saying that it is expected between the Super Bowl and the end of the month, as he has been hiring staff and gearing up for a run.

Hovde is an odds-on favorite heavily due to his financial ability to take the race all the way. Reports indicated that he's prepared to spend eight figures on his campaign.

His financial resources, coupled with strong support from Senate Republicans, could result in the win Republicans need to secure majority control.

.@thehill reports that Eric Hovde's unofficial Senate campaign is going to become an official Senate campaign in February. https://t.co/st4Sux6FMM

— Dan Shafer (@DanRShafer) January 29, 2024

Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines thinks Hovde is the best contender.

"Wisconsin is going to be one of the top states. It’s a battleground for the presidential race. It’ll be a battleground state for the Senate. Eric Hovde … would be a great candidate," Daines said.

"He’s been involved in a big campaign before, and it looks like he’s doing a really good job of preparing for the battle," Daines added. "That race is going to be really competitive."

Some have questioned Hovde's potential late announcement, but one source said that it's purely strategic, noting that Hovde has already organized, which affords him the ability to make the final announcement later in the game, which avoids several months of Democratic attacks.

"You can announce late. You can’t organize late. He organized early," the source reportedly said. "He’s able to come in later and shorten the campaign and the time Democrats are able to attack him."

Baldwin will undoubtedly be a tough one to beat, given her successful and consistent fundraising apparatus, not to mention extra support from the Democratic Party as it seeks to hold on to a critical seat.

Only time will tell if Hovde has what it takes to beat her. If he does, it'll be an absolute game-changer for the Republican Party in November.