Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin announces reelection bid

Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin announced Wednesday that she is running for a third term as Democrats look to hold onto control of their slim Senate majority.

“I'm committed to making sure that working people, not just the big corporations and ultra-wealthy, have a fighter on their side. With so much at stake, from families struggling with rising costs to a ban on reproductive freedom, Wisconsinites need someone who can fight and win,” Baldwin said in a statement.

Baldwin’s reference to reproductive freedom in the state comes as liberals flipped the ideological makeup of Wisconsin’s Supreme Court earlier this month. The new 4-3 majority is much more likely to strike down a controversial 19th-century abortion ban in the state.

Baldwin, 61, became Wisconsin's first woman senator and the country's first openly gay senator with her election in 2012. Baldwin won reelection in 2018. Last year, Baldwin gained national attention for helping spearhead a bill protecting the rights of same-sex marriage, which passed last November.

Democrats face a challenging 2024 Senate map with 20 Democrats and three independents up for reelection.

No Republicans have formally announced plans to run against Baldwin next year.