Wisconsin
Wisconsin Republican Senate candidate Hovde promises to donate salary to charity
Madison, Wis. – Wisconsin Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde pledged in a new campaign ad Friday to donate his salary to charity if elected, a move that comes as Democrats try to paint the California bank owner and real estate mogul as an out-of-touch multimillionaire.
Hovde has suggested he will spend as much as $20 million of his own money in the race to defeat Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. The race is one of a few that could determine if Democrats maintain majority control of the Senate.
“I’ve worked hard, been fortunate,” Hovde says in the ad. “I don’t need their special interest money, and I won’t take it.”
Hovde promises to give his entire $174,000 taxpayer-funded salary to a Wisconsin charity every year. His spokesperson, Ben Voelkel, said the exact charities are yet to be determined, but they would not include the Hovde Foundation, a charity run by Hovde’s family.
“I can’t be bought,” Hovde says in the spot, where he promises not to be subject to special interests. Hovde has already said he won’t accept donations from corporate special interests, but he also can’t control how they spend their money in a campaign.
Hovde faces nominal opposition in the August Republican primary. The general election is Nov. 5.
Hovde was born and raised in Wisconsin, but also owns a $7 million estate in Laguna Beach, California, and is CEO of California-based H Bancorp and its primary subsidiary, Sunwest Bank. He is also CEO of Hovde Properties, a Madison-based real estate firm started by his grandfather in 1933.
Hovde has not said if he would divest from his financial holdings if elected.
Hovde’s net worth as of 2012, the last time he ran for Senate, was at least $52 million. Hovde lost in the Republican primary that year to former Gov. Tommy Thompson, who lost to Baldwin.
Hovde and his backers have tried to portray Baldwin, who was first elected to Congress in 1998, as a career politician who has spent too much time in elected office. She spent six years in the state Legislature before being elected to Congress.
Baldwin and Democrats, meanwhile, have painted Hovde as an out-of-touch Californian. Hovde tried to combat that image by submerging himself in a Madison lake in February. He challenged Baldwin to do it and she declined.
“Wisconsin voters will see Eric Hovde for who he is: a megamillionaire, California bank owner who doesn’t share our values and can’t be trusted to fight for us,” Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesperson Arik Wolk said in response to Hovde’s charity pledge.
Hovde’s promise to donate his salary to charity is reminiscent of former Democratic U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, also a multimillionaire, whose slogan was “Nobody’s Senator but Yours.” Kohl accepted his salary as a senator, which was then $89,500 when he joined in 1989, but returned all of the pay raises to the treasury. Kohl died in December.
- Showers will be most likely for areas along and south of the I-94 corridor
- Dry and pleasant conditions for Monday and Tuesday
- Showers and thunderstorms will return Tuesday night and into the day Wednesday
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – We are starting the day with some sunshine, but high-level clouds will continue to move in out ahead of a weather system to the southwest. This area of low pressure will move eastward across Illinois and Indiana today, bringing an increase in cloud cover as well as the chance for rain in southern Wisconsin. There is still some uncertainty with exactly how far north the rain will extend, but there is a higher confidence in the presence and coverage of showers along and south of the I-94 corridor this afternoon and evening. Activity will likely be much more hit-or-miss in areas farther north, with some spots potentially not seeing any rain at all.
The cloud cover and rain combined will work to limit temperatures today, with highs only ranging from the upper 60s (in southern Wisconsin) to the low 70s (further north where the sun may linger longer, and it will be drier). We are not expecting a heavy rain, nor are we expecting storms. In areas closer to the state line, rainfall accumulations may be around a half inch. Tonight, rain will end as the system moves east.
What’s Coming Up…
Monday will be dry and pleasant with highs into the mid-70s and some sunshine. This trend continues Tuesday, with highs in the upper 70s. Rain and thunderstorms are then likely to return Tuesday night and Wednesday, with a chance for some stronger storms Wednesday afternoon. Additional showers may linger into Thursday.
Looking Ahead…
Friday looks mostly dry before more chances for showers and thunderstorms return next weekend as temperatures warm up a bit closer to normal for this time of the year.
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MILWAUKEE (WLUK) — Four Northeast Wisconsin garage bands took to the Aurora Pavilion Stage at Summerfest Friday in hopes of winning the 2026 edition of ‘Rockonsin.’
The bands include:
- “Mania” composed of students from East De Pere High School
- “The Danios” composed of students from Mayville High School
- “The Doorknobs” composed of students from Sheboygan North High School and Étude High School
- “Krusher” composed of students from Campbellsport High School
The local bands and six others were the finalists selected from 54 middle and high schools across across Wisconsin for the 2026 contest.
All of them performed 20 minute showcases for an audience, including a trio of music industry panel judges. The bands were judged on technique, rhythm and vocals, primary beats, and synergy among other aspects.
Rockonsin announced “Krusher” won the grand prize Saturday night. Winning the contest nets the band a 12 hour recording session at Blast House Studios in Madison. The runner up band is “Candy Cigarette” from Oconomowoc High School, which wins a shorter 8 hour recording session at Blast House Studios.
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The contest is in its 22nd year.
LAKE MILLS, Wis. (WFRV) – The City of Lake Mills Police Department alerted the public that they are looking for a missing endangered person early Saturday morning.
Police say that 24-year-old Alfred, “Al,” Pellatt of Lake Mills was last seen at approximately 2:45 a.m. on Friday, June 19. It was detailed that Pellatt left a bar in the 100 block of N. Main Street in Lake Mills heading north on foot. At around 2:43 a.m., Pellatt was viewed on foot in the 500 block of N. Main Street.
It was noted that Pellatt has special needs and is on medication, but does not have it with him.
Police describe Pellatt as a 6’0″ white male, weighing 215 pounds. He was last seen wearing a floral dress.
Lake Mills is located west of Milwaukee in Jefferson County.
Any information pertaining to Pellatt’s whereabouts should be shared with the City of Lake Mills Police Department.
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