MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin's hotly contested bid for U.S. Senate pits two-term Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin against Republican Eric Hovde, a millionaire businessman backed by former President Donald Trump who has poured millions of his own money into the contest.

A Baldwin victory is crucial for Democrats to maintain their 51-49 majority in the Senate. Democrats are defending 23 seats, including three held by independents who caucus with them. By comparison, Republicans hope to retain just 11 seats in their column.

While Baldwin's voting record is liberal, she emphasized bipartisanship throughout the campaign. Baldwin was the first statewide Democratic candidate in more than 20 years to be endorsed by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, the state's largest agricultural organization.

Their first television commercial noted that their “Buy American” bill was signed by Trump. In July, she announced Senate committee approval of a bill she co-authored with Trump's vice presidential running mate, Sen. JD Vance, that would ensure taxpayer-funded inventions are made in the United States.

Hovde tried to portray Baldwin as a quixotic liberal career politician who didn't do enough to combat inflation, illegal immigration and crime.

Hovde's wealth, particularly his leadership of Utah-based Sunwest Bank and ownership of a $7 million estate in Laguna Beach, California, was a key target for Baldwin, who sought to portray him as an outsider who did not represent Wisconsin values .

Baldwin also attacked Hovde for his opposition to abortion rights.

Hovde said he supports overturning Roe v. Wade through the Supreme Court in 2022, but said he would not vote for a federal law banning abortion and would leave the decision to the states. That's a change in his position from his last run for Senate in 2012, when he “totally opposed” abortion.

Baldwin's television ads tapped into the common theme that Hovde insulted farmers, elderly residents, parents and others. Hovde, who was born in Madison and owns a home there, accused Baldwin of distorting his comments, lying about his record and misleading voters.

Baldwin won her first Senate race in 2012 against popular former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson by nearly six percentage points. Hovde lost to Thompson in this year's primary.

Hovde criticized Baldwin for holding elected office since 1987, including the last 12 years in the Senate and 14 years before that in the House.