Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced she is seeking a third term and will run for reelection in 2024, the latest Democratic incumbent to announce a campaign as the party braces itself for a battle to keep its narrow Senate majority.
Baldwin announced her reelection campaign on Wednesday, stating she is committed to helping the working class.
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“I’m committed to making sure that working people, not just the big corporations and ultrawealthy, have a fighter on their side,” Baldwin said in a statement via the Washington Post. “With so much at stake, from families struggling with rising costs to a ban on reproductive freedom, Wisconsinites need someone who can fight and win.”
The senator's announcement followed key Democratic wins throughout the state, the latest being the Wisconsin Supreme Court race after liberal Judge Janet Protasiewicz defeated conservative former Justice Daniel Kelly — flipping the majority of the court for the first time in 15 years.
Protasiewicz's win gives Democrats a one-vote majority on hot-button subjects such as gun control and abortion, as well as redistricting and the 2024 presidential race.
Wisconsin is emerging as one of the 2024 battleground states as Republicans look to gain a larger majority in the House and flip the Senate to their control. Democrats will have to defend 23 of the 33 seats up for reelection in 2024.
However, Baldwin has proven her resiliency against Republican opponents since she defeated four-term former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI) for the open Senate seat in 2012. With her win, she became the first woman and openly gay person to represent Wisconsin in the Senate. Last cycle, in 2018, she won reelection by over 10 percentage points.
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The Democrats almost secured a second Senate seat in the November midterm elections but fell short by less than 30,000 votes after Democratic candidate Mandela Barnes failed to defeat Rep. Ron Johnson (R-WI).
No Republican has announced intent to challenge Baldwin yet. The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a statement following Baldwin's announcement, criticizing her voting history.
“Tammy Baldwin has voted against tougher penalties for violent criminals, stood with Democrats to destroy American energy independence, and rubber-stamped Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer’s reckless spending at every turn," spokesman Tate Mitchell said. "She’s a reliable vote for the far Left, not a senator Wisconsin can count on.”
Baldwin's campaign is likely to feature topics of abortion and reproductive freedom, particularly after reintroducing the Women's Health Protection Act last month.