Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., was successful in her re-election campaign in Wisconsin, despite President-elect Donald Trump flipping the state back to red in the presidential election. Baldwin attributes her win to her “72-county strategy,” which involved traveling the entire state and engaging with voters in rural, suburban, and urban areas. She hosted targeted tours, such as the Dairyland Tour and Rural Leaders for Tammy Tour, and microtargeted rural communities with content regarding her agricultural work. Baldwin held roundtables and forums on relevant issues, such as the opioid epidemic, to engage with voters and earn their trust. She also credited her work on agricultural issues and “buy America” rules in legislation as contributing to her re-election win.
Baldwin’s campaign in 2024 involved more than 250 events in Wisconsin alone. She focused on engaging voters in all parts of the state, not just in the large blue enclaves of Milwaukee and Dane counties. The senator emphasizes the importance of showing up and listening to constituents, as well as effectively engaging with them on relevant issues. She acknowledges that while traveling extensively is important, engaging with voters in each place visited is equally crucial. Baldwin mentions that her years of work in Wisconsin have allowed her to earn the trust of voters, in contrast to Vice President Kamala Harris’s short campaign timeline to turn out voters in the state.
One significant achievement for Baldwin was earning the endorsement of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors, highlighting her work on agricultural issues. She pointed to legislation she championed, such as the Dairy Business Innovation Act, which provides grants to dairy producers and processors. Baldwin also attributes her win to her advocacy for “buy America” rules in legislation, appealing to voters in the large manufacturing sector in her state. She believes her campaign strategy of traveling extensively across Wisconsin could be a model for other Democrats, especially those in swing states.
Throughout her campaign, Baldwin made a point to convene roundtables and forums on various issues, including the opioid epidemic and agricultural concerns. She emphasized the importance of engaging with voters on a personal level and addressing their needs and worries. Baldwin also stressed the significance of visiting all parts of the state, including areas that may not have seen much attention from elected officials in the past. She highlighted the timber industry in northern Wisconsin as an example of an industry that had not received much attention from politicians until her campaign.
Baldwin’s extensive travel across Wisconsin was a result of her realization during her first Senate campaign of the importance of learning about the state beyond her previous district. She highlighted the diversity of industries and communities in Wisconsin, such as the timber industry in the north woods that she had not been exposed to before. Baldwin received feedback from constituents that they appreciated her visits to their communities, especially as a Democrat, as they had not seen much attention from elected officials in the past. Overall, Baldwin’s campaign strategy of traveling extensively, engaging with voters on relevant issues, and earning their trust played a significant role in her successful re-election in Wisconsin.
