Both Decision Desk HQ and Fox News have stated that Baldwin defeated Hovde by a slim margin to gain reelection to a third term. According to unofficial results reported by the Associated Press, Baldwin defeated Hovde by a margin of 0.9%, or a little under 29,000 votes, and he will have until Tuesday, November 19th, to request a recount.

His campaign received some funding from Democratic donors in what Hovde said was an effort to siphon votes from him. While it's a tactic that the GOP has also used to prop up candidates on the opponents' left flank,