“Super PAC Funded by Brother of Republican Challenger Attacks Sen. Tammy Baldwin with $220,000 in Digital Ads”

The Fix Washington Political Action Committee, funded almost entirely by the brother of Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde, has been making waves in the political landscape with its aggressive digital ad campaign targeting Democratic incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Steven Hovde, the brother of Eric Hovde, contributed a whopping $1 million to the PAC, which has spent over $220,000 on ads attacking Baldwin as a “career politician.”

This isn’t the first time Steven has supported his brother’s political ambitions, as he previously donated to Eric’s Senate campaign in 2012. While Steven has not directly contributed to his brother’s current campaign, he is able to donate unlimited funds to the super PAC under FEC rules.

The ad attacking Baldwin, with the tagline “not working for us anymore,” has been circulating widely in Wisconsin, specifically targeting men. The PAC’s spending, in addition to Eric Hovde’s $8 million loan to his campaign, has helped him narrow the fundraising gap with Baldwin.

Super PACs, enabled by the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling in 2010, have become a significant player in American politics, allowing for unlimited fundraising and spending on elections. While coordination rules exist, enforcement is limited, making it difficult to regulate the influence of major donors like Steven Hovde.

Despite the controversy surrounding the PAC’s funding sources, everything remains legal under current rules. The impact of these ads and the influx of money in the Senate race between Hovde and Baldwin remains to be seen, as the campaign heats up leading to the election.