Wisconsinites rejected two-time failed Senate candidate and California multimillionaire banker Eric Hovde. Hovde’s loss can be attributed to the fact that his campaign has been commonly referred to as a “gaffe machine,” due to him insulting almost everyone in Wisconsin including seniors, single mothers, farmers, young people, and more. Recent news of Hovde’s shady business dealings with a Mexican bank with links to the drug cartel and his investment of millions in companies that outsourced jobs from Wisconsin reinforce the fact he’s just a wealthy out-of-touch banker who is interested in enriching himself.
“Eric Hovde learned the hard way that Wisconsinites won’t tolerate his toxic brand of self-interest,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Nico Delgado. “Hovde struggled to defend a long history of putting profits first. Wisconsin voters saw him for who he is: a rich banker with no real connection to the working people. Wisconsinites are fed up with his insults and are ready to boot him back to California.”
See some of the stories that led to Hovde’s defeat:
- WPR: Senate candidate Eric Hovde says most nursing home residents not ‘at a point to vote’
- AP: Wisconsin’s GOP Senate candidate Hovde defends not knowing much about the farm bill in a dairy state
- HuffPost: Republican Eric Hovde Invested Millions In Companies That Outsourced Jobs From Wisconsin
- HuffPost: This GOP Senate Hopeful Is Railing Against Electric Vehicles. He Made Big Money Off EV Stocks.
See below for the lowlights that contributed to Hovde’s loss:
- Hovde was caught on a hot mic disparaging a key provision of the Affordable Care Act that allows young adults to access health care.
- Hovde pledged to repeal the ACA if elected, raising concerns among voters reliant on these crucial health care protections.
- Hovde called for Roe to be overturned and said he was “totally opposed to abortion.”
- Hovde refused to say whether he would have certified the 2020 election.
- Hovde refused to say if he would accept the results of the 2024 election and cited ballot drop boxes as sources of fraud.
- Hovde called for “absolutely” trimming benefits for Medicare and Social Security.
- Hovde supported Paul Ryan’s plan to essentially eliminate Medicare and called it “bold and courageous.”
- Hovde called for increasing the retirement age for Social Security.
- Hovde insulted seniors in nursing homes and said they are not “at a point to vote” because of their age.
- Hovde rarely voted in Wisconsin, prompting conservative radio host Mark Belling to call for him to be removed from the voting rolls.
- Hovde publicly decried “meme stocks” and stocks in electric vehicles, despite personally benefiting from them.
- Hovde downplayed the effects of climate change and suggested climate change is beneficial because it formed Wisconsin’s lakes.
- When asked about familiarity with Black culture, Hovde said he’s spent “a lot of time in places like Africa.”
- Hovde claimed Black men have lived on “handouts” and “welfare checks.”
- Hovde insulted single mothers during his first failed run for Senate.
- Hovde got caught lying about his bootstraps story when in reality he used his father’s wealth and political connections to climb the ladder.
- Hovde got caught skipping a rural campaign event while relaxing on the beachside of his Laguna Beach mansion in California.
- Hovde insulted people with obesity and proposed that they should pay more in health care premiums.
- Hovde said farmers don’t work hard and it’s largely “driving around on a tractor” now.
- Hovde stumbled during a TV interview and said that he’d never been a Wisconsin resident.
- Hovde said women lacked civic knowledge because they are distracted by Hollywood.
- Hovde favored tax hikes for low- and middle-income Wisconsinites, while backing tax cuts for himself.
- Hovde was against green energy tax credits, but his bank took full advantage of the solar credits afforded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
- Hovde’s firm invested millions abroad to avoid taxes.
- Hovde forgot the words to the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Hovde’s bank flew $26 million in cash from Mexico to California as a part of a deal with Banco Azteca, a Mexican-based bank with links to drug cartels.
- Hovde refuses to divest from his bank or even put it into a trust, setting up a myriad of conflicts of interest.
- Hovde got caught using Republican operatives in ads that are supposed to portray struggling Wisconsinites.
- Hovde insulted Native Americans and said “quasi-socialist” reservations created out of “guilt” have ruined life for Native Americans.
- Hovde said that poisoning from lead pipes was not a big issue.
- Hovde hurt Wisconsin workers by investing millions in companies that outsourced jobs.
- Hovde accepted a major campaign contribution from a convicted felon tied to tax evasion and prostitution.
Published: Nov 6, 2024