Republican Senate Candidate Eric Hovde Faces Challenges with Older Voters Amid Lawsuit Allegations

The Republican banking executive Eric Hovde, who is challenging Sen. Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin, is facing potential issues with older voters due to a recent lawsuit involving a senior living facility partly owned by the bank he leads, Sunwest. The lawsuit accuses the facility of elder abuse, negligence, and wrongful death, leading to concerns about Hovde’s ties to the nursing home industry.

Hovde’s campaign has dismissed the lawsuit as meritless, emphasizing that the bank seized the property in foreclosure in 2021 and should not be held responsible for the facility’s actions. However, Hovde’s own comments boasting about his expertise in the nursing home industry have drawn criticism, particularly his suggestion that residents in nursing homes are not in a condition to vote.

The lawsuit, set to go to trial in March 2025, has raised questions about Hovde’s business dealings and potential implications for his political campaign. With Wisconsin’s significant older population, Hovde’s remarks on nursing home residents’ ability to vote have sparked controversy and condemnation from Democrats and former Milwaukee Bucks star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

As Republicans aim to gain control of the Senate in the upcoming election, Hovde’s stumbles highlight the challenges of self-funding campaigns and the scrutiny that comes with business wealth and experience. The outcome of the lawsuit and Hovde’s handling of the situation could impact his chances in the race against Sen. Baldwin.