Baldwin touts ‘Made in America’ law in ad
TV spot comes 2 weeks after Hovde enters race
MADISON – Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is launching her first TV ad of her reelection bid, touting her work to promote “Made in America” manufacturing with bipartisan legislation.
The 30-second spot features Wisconsin workers who “forge steel parts that hold up bridges, propel ships and send rockets into space.” But for years, China has lowballed prices “so it’s been tough to compete,” two workers from Scot Forge say in the ad.
“We can’t let China steal Wisconsin jobs. So I wrote a law to require American infrastructure projects use American iron and steel,” Baldwin says.
The ad notes that Republican former President Donald Trump signed into law a bipartisan bill in 2018 that included a requirement, pushed by Baldwin, that federally-funded water infrastructure projects use American-made iron and steel. In 2021, Democratic President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan law that made that requirement permanent and expanded “Buy America” provisions to construction materials including copper, plastic, concrete, glass, lumber and drywall.
“Tammy Baldwin has our backs,” a worker says to conclude the ad.
The ad will run statewide on broadcast, cable and digital, according to the campaign. The campaign is poised to spend seven figures over the next few weeks and millions over the next few months, campaign spokesman Andrew Mamo said.
The ad launch comes two weeks after Republican Madison businessman Eric Hovde entered the race. Hovde is Baldwin’s only high-profile challenger, though some are still considering bids.
Hovde has put two ads on the air: a 30-second spot announcing his campaign and a 60-second ad titled “Wisconsin Roots” detailing his history in the state. It came the same day Senate Democrats’ main campaign group released a 30-second ad of their own continuing their efforts to depict him as an out-of-touch millionaire attempting to buy a Senate seat in Wisconsin, keying in on his business ties to California.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, also went after Baldwin in a 30second digital ad the day Hovde formally announced his candidacy, accusing Baldwin of saying one thing and doing another.
The race is expected to continue to draw national attention and spending as it could prove key in determining which party controls the Senate next year. Senate Democrats this cycle are defending 23 seats, including three held by independents who caucus with Democrats. Just 11 Republicans are up for re-election.
Hovde previously ran for Senate in 2012 but finished a close second to former Wisconsin Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson in the primary. Thompson went on to lose to Baldwin by nearly 6 points. Hovde also weighed a race against Baldwin in 2018 but backed off, and briefly considered a run for governor in 2022.
Baldwin is seeking a third term after doubling her victory margin from 2012 to 2018, defeating her GOP challenger, former state Sen. Leah Vukmir, by about 11 points.
The race is rated lean Democrat by both the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Sabato’s Crystal Ball.
“We can’t let China steal Wisconsin jobs. So I wrote a law to require American infrastructure projects use American iron and steel,” Baldwin says in the ad.