Wisconsin
Wisconsin Senate candidate Hovde ties Baldwin to Biden at Republican National Convention • Wisconsin Examiner
Senate candidate Eric Hovde tied Sen. Tammy Baldwin, the Wisconsin Democrat seeking a third term, to President Joe Biden at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Tuesday, calling her a “rubber-stamp” for his administration in his speech.
The multimillionaire Republican businessman is challenging Baldwin, who has served in the seat since 2013, in a year where the seat could make a difference in control of the U.S. Senate. As Hovde took the stage, he was met by cheers from the Wisconsin delegation, many of whom were waving Hovde campaign signs in the air.
“America’s struggling under Joe Biden and Senator Baldwin has been a rubber stamp holding with him 95.5% of the time,” Hovde said. During the five-minute speech, he said the Biden administration and Baldwin are responsible for increasing national debt, inflation and crime at the southern border.
“Where Biden and Baldwin have failed, President [Donald] Trump and I will get the job done,” Hovde said.
Hovde also called for people to move past divisions, which he blamed on “the left” and called for unity, which is an ongoing theme for the convention.
“We need to put on the red, white, blue jersey and come together as Americans. They heal this country from the division that the left has brought,” Hovde said. “And the media, you have to stop fighting us, and we can come together… We will restore America, but it’s gonna take everyone getting involved.”
Wisconsin delegates reacted positively to the speech, saying they wanted to see Hovde elected to help the Republican party get things done under a potential second Trump presidency.
Wisconsin state Sen. Cory Tomczyk of Mosinee said he wants to see Hovde help work towards achieving the “Trump agenda” in the U.S. Senate.
“I want to see that support given to President Trump. I want to see him get things back on track and then I want us to set up for the next four years [and] after the next four years of President Trump,” Tomczyk said.
Tomczyk noted that the contrast between Hovde and Baldwin is “pretty black and white,” saying that Hovde is a more “rounded out” candidate and he supports his position on “girls in sports” — a reference to policies of keeping transgender girls off of girls teams — and economics.
“Businessmen and household managers, household moms, household dads know better about managing money than some of the people that we have in Washington,” Tomczyk said. “I’m not sure what Tammy Baldwin’s history is. I think she’s just holding a place she got in and now she’s just camping out there. I think people are tired of having someone in any of those positions for too long.”
Wisconsin State Treasurer John Leiber said Hovde’s speech at the RNC was one of his best that he’s given, and that the conviction is going to get Wisconsinites paying attention to the race. A recent poll from Marquette Law School showed that Baldwin is leading Hovde.
“As they say, the only poll that matters is on Election Day, and I don’t think it’s uncommon for a challenger to still have some name recognition to work on,” Leiber said. “It’s still four months out.”
“It’s really important that voters don’t just vote for Donald Trump, but they vote for Eric Hovde as well because without the Senate, then we’re going to be stuck,” Leiber said, adding that he appreciated Hovde’s message about unity. “We want to bring the whole team of Republicans there and really make some changes in Washington.”
Leiber said Hovde’s focus on inflation is a point that will connect with Wisconsin voters.
“I don’t think people really need to be convinced there is inflation, it obviously exists and there’s only one party that’s talking about it as a problem and is pledging to do something about it,” Leiber said. “I’m afraid that Democrats seem to want to tell us that everything’s fine.”
Wisconsin Democratic Party Rapid Response Director Arik Wolk responded to Hovde’s speech in a statement, saying that Wisconsinites will reject Hovde come November.
“Nothing out-of-touch California multimillionaire Eric Hovde said on stage can change the fact that for months, Wisconsinites have heard him make disparaging remarks about folks across the state while pushing policies to benefit himself and his wealthy buddies,” Wolk said.
In the current campaign cycle Democrats have doggedly pointed out that Hovde owns a $7 million home located in California and that he made remarks that “almost nobody in a nursing home” is at a point where they are capable of voting. He later had to clarify that he doesn’t oppose seniors voting.
Wolk added that Wisconsinites will reelect “Baldwin, who spends every minute working for Wisconsin families–from protecting made-in-America manufacturing, to standing up to Big Pharma, and defending our reproductive freedoms.”
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Wisconsin
Wisconsin authorities put total arrests from clashes at beagle breeding facility at about 25
MADISON (AP) — Around 25 protesters were arrested as around 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to gain entry to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin and were met by officers firing pepper spray and rubber bullets, authorities said Sunday.
Saturday’s protest was the second attempt in as many months by demonstrators to take beagles from Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, about 25 miles (about 40 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Madison. They were turned back by officers who arrested the group’s leader.
Owen Ziliak/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office said the situation was “significantly calmer and more peaceful” on Sunday, when around 200 people assembled outside the farm. They dispersed after around two hours, it said.
“We’re pleased with the group’s cooperation today, and their willingness to remain peaceful, while still sending their message of concern for the dogs at Ridglan Farms,” Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a statement. “We are happy to support anyone who wants to exercise the right to protest, as long as they do so lawfully.”
Owen Ziliak/The Wisconsin State Journal via AP
The sheriff had said in a video statement Saturday that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property.” They tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence.
Owen Ziliak/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
Some got through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
Those arrested included the leader of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, Wayne Hsiung, 44, of New York, who was being held on a tentative felony charge of conspiracy to commit burglary. But most arrestees were just booked and released, the sheriff’s office said Sunday.
“No one should be assaulted for giving aid to a dog, even if damage to property is part of that rescue effort,” Hsuing said in a statement from jail Sunday that also accused authorities of using excessive force. “The animals of this Earth are not “things.” They’re sentient beings. And we have the right to rescue them from abuse,” he concluded.
Protesters took 30 dogs when they broke into the facility in March, when authorities arrested 27 people.
Ridglan denies mistreating animals but agreed in October to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 in a deal to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.
On its website, the company says “no credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.”
Let’s talk:
Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
Report a typo or error
About 1,000 animal welfare activists who tried to gain entry on Saturday to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin were turned back by police who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group’s leader.
It was the second attempt in as many months by protesters to take beagles from the Ridglan Farms facility in Blue Mounds, a small town about 25 miles (about 40 kilometres) southwest of Wisconsin’s capital, Madison.
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a video statement that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property” and assault officers. He said protesters have ignored designated areas for peaceful protest and blocked roads to prevent emergency vehicles from entering.
“This is not a peaceful protest,” Barrett said.
The sheriff’s department said a “significant” number of people were arrested out of about 1,000 protesters at the site but did not give an exact total as they were still being processed as of the afternoon.
Protesters tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence. Some protesters did get through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde reflects on early March Madness exit
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde said the Badgers ‘thought we could do so many things’ in the NCAA Tournament before it ended abrupty with an upset loss.
Wisconsin men’s basketball has added a sharpshooting wing via the transfer portal.
Miami (Ohio) transfer Eian Elmer has signed with the Badgers, the team announced April 18. The 6-foot-7 wing will join UW with one year of eligibility remaining.
Elmer averaged a career-high 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range in 2025-26. His production helped the RedHawks go 32-2 and earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
“We are really excited to add another excellent addition to our spring signees,” UW coach Greg Gard said in a release. “Eian brings a wealth of experience and scoring punch as a 6-7 wing. … A terrific shooter, his skillset and production fit excellently into our plan as we build out next year’s team. Throughout our evaluation process, our staff loved his size, power and skill and truly believe he will thrive in our system.”
Elmer is Wisconsin’s third transfer portal addition since the end of the 2025-26 season, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry and former Hofstra forward Victory Onuetu. UW also added Australian guard Owen Foxwell.
The additions of Autry, Onuetu and now Elmer leave Gard’s staff with three more roster spots to fill ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Badgers are looking to replace much of their production from a 2025-26 team that went 24-11. Nolan Winter is expected to be the team’s only returning starter after John Blackwell and Aleksas Bieliauskas entered the transfer portal and Nick Boyd and Andrew Rohde exhausted their eligibility.
-
New York47 minutes agoInside the NYC Power Stations That Keep Trains Moving — or Bring Them to a Halt
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoDetroit Pistons already facing must-win Game 2 vs Orlando Magic
-
San Francisco, CA1 hour agoGiants Head Home to San Francisco After Shutout Loss
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoNew video of Lake Dallas explosion draws focus on order decades ago to remove old plastic pipes
-
Miami, FL2 hours ago
Ty Simpson considered staying in college for $6.5 million offer from Miami
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoTools for Your To Do List with Spot and Gemini Robotics | Boston Dynamics
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoDenver beekeeper says swarm season came a month early this year thanks to warm weather
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoHere, Kitty, Kitty: Scenes from POP Cats Seattle 2026
