Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Republican challenger Eric Hovde engaged in a debate covering topics such as abortion, immigration, and foreign policy, with just 18 days left before the election. The one-hour debate on October 18 marked the only planned debate between the two candidates vying for Baldwin’s U.S. Senate seat. The discussion was moderated by career broadcaster Jill Geisler, with a panel of journalists posing questions to Baldwin and Hovde. The candidates sparred on various issues, including the Affordable Care Act, Social Security, abortion, and immigration. Despite polling margins narrowing, Baldwin currently leads Hovde by around 2.7 points, according to RealClearPolitics polling averages.
Foreign Wars
The discussion shifted towards foreign policy during the debate.
When asked about how the United States should navigate its support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas while considering the impact on civilians in Gaza, candidate Hovde stated, “Israel was attacked and suffered significant losses. If our nation was similarly attacked, we would retaliate.” He criticized the Biden administration for interfering in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Hovde framed the Israel-Hamas conflict as part of a larger confrontation with Iran. He blamed Baldwin, along with former President Obama and Biden, for easing sanctions on Iran, allowing the country to finance terrorism.
Baldwin condemned the Hamas attack on Israel that initiated the current Gaza war, emphasizing Israel’s right to self-defense. She also highlighted the civilian casualties and the need for humanitarian aid and a pathway to a ceasefire.
Discussing support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russian forces, Baldwin stressed the importance of standing with democracy and preventing Putin from further aggression in Europe. She warned of potential U.S. military involvement if NATO-allied countries like Poland were targeted.
Baldwin criticized Trump’s stance on ending the Ukraine war and accused Hovde of aligning with him. Hovde, in turn, attributed the Russia-Ukraine conflict to Biden’s handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
While initially supportive of aiding Ukraine, Hovde expressed concerns about the accountability of the funds sent to the country. He questioned the effectiveness of continuous financial support and the impact it was having on the Ukrainian people.