Hovde calls for restoring faith in elections, would certify 2024 results
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde pushed back on rhetoric claiming elections are stolen and embraced voting by mail, a break from former President Donald Trump who endorsed wealthy businessmen.
At a luncheon co-hosted by the Milwaukee Press Club and the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Hovde said he would vote to certify the results of the 2024 election, if elected, and discussed restoring confidence in elections.
“We have to stop every time one side loses an election saying the election was stolen," Hovde said.
He also recognized how Trump has disagreed with the outcome of the 2020 election and criticized Democrats who did so in 2016.
"If I lose, I lose," Hovde said. "Now, if somebody said hey, here's mass fraud, then of course I'm going to respond. So I'm not going to make a blanket statement because if some evidence is overwhelming.”
On early voting, Hovde embraced absentee voting and said he opposes measures to eliminate it.
This summer in Milwaukee, the Republican National Committee adopted their 2024 platform at their July convention which included calls for same-day voting, even though the GOP is urging supporters to vote ahead of Election Day.
Hovde "believes in absentee voting" but again criticized ballot drop boxes and urged voters to "just go put them in a mailbox."
Drop boxes have been an on-going debate since the state Supreme Court legalized them again for the November election. Conservative have raised security concerns over drop boxes that largely steam from Trump's unfounded claims they can be an avenue for fraud.
There was no evidence of widespread fraud during the 2020 election based on numerous reviews, court rulings and recounts.
When asked, Hovde did not elaborate what issue he has with drop boxes. He has previously called for 24-7 monitoring of drop boxes in wake of the Supreme Court ruling.
More than a dozen communities have decided to prohibit drop boxes, a move voting rights activists have criticized as they view them as a convenient and secure way to return ballots.
Immigration, Lead Pipes & Climate Change
On immigration, Hovde was asked about Trump's call for mass deportations of illegal immigration. In response, Hovde said, “You start with anybody who has been convicted of a criminal act, either in this country or in their former country, and you move down from there.”
His remarks took place the same time President Joe Biden was in Milwaukee to announce $2.6 billion in funding to replace all lead pipes in the United States. The move will require all lead pipes to be replaced within 10 years using new funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.
Hovde supported the decision when asked about using federal aid for clean drinking water.
"The amount of lead pipes in this country are very small, but I think we should get rid of all of them," he said. "So when you ask me about a good use of federal funds, that's a good use of federal funds."
Climate change was also part of the discussion with a trend of rapidly intensifying storms impacting Florida's Gulf Coast.
When asked if climate change is affecting the severity of tropical storms, such as Helene and Milton, Hovde said he believes "man is influencing climate."
He also signaled support for solar energy and clean energy propositions "that are economical."
Hovde also repeated false claims about FEMA and how the agency "doesn't have money to transfer to those people affected" and instead is spending it to “assist illegal immigrants.”
IVF Treatments
The issue of abortion was not part of Tuesday's discussion, but in vitro fertilization was.
Hovde also reiterated his support for IVF and noted he "tried it" with his wife.
When asked if he backed Trump's idea for the government or insurance companies to pay for IVF treatments, Hovde declined to say if either should foot the bill.