Tommy Thompson wins Wisconsin’s Republican Senate primaryBy Sean Sullivan and Aaron Blake, Published: August 14 | Updated: Wednesday, August 15, 12:38 AMFormer governor Tommy Thompson won the Republican Senate primary in Wisconsin on Tuesday, defeating businessman Eric Hovde, who spent millions of his own money on the campaign. Thompson will face Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin in the general election.
Thompson’s win was a victory for the Republican establishment, which has taken a beating in several Senate races this cycle, with conservative underdogs scoring upsets in Texas, Missouri and Indiana. Thompson’s long record of general-election success strengthens Republicans’ chances of taking over the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl.
Thompson, who served four terms as governor and later was health and human services secretary under President George W. Bush, withstood an intensely negative campaign against him. The anti-tax Club for Growth and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) backed former congressman Mark Neumann, who appeared headed for a third-place finish.
