Wisconsin was the tipping point for President-elect Donald Trump’s victory. When the state’s vote came in, they pushed him over the top.

Final results: Trump won the state with 49.7% of the vote compared to 48.8% for Vice President Kamala Harris. In Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race, Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin beat Republican challenger Eric Hovde by a similarly close margin,with Baldwin at 49.4% to Hovde at 48.5%.

Election Day 2024 started with gray skies and a steady rain.

Poll workers process absentee ballots in Milwaukee on Nov. 6, 2024. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

As voters cast their ballots, Democrats were convinced Harris was pulling away in the final days of the election.

“There were a lot of people who didn’t think we could do this,” said Brian Schimming, chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

He said it was the hard work of thousands of volunteers who convinced voters to send Trump back to the White House.

“This got done because volunteers and staff across the state went out and talked to over 1.5 million voters,” Schimming said.

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally on Oct. 1, 2024 in Waunakee. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

As the polls closed, results started coming in and showed the race for president and U.S. Senate would be tight.

The election night party for Baldwin was largely empty, and Baldwin herself never showed.

It was up to Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez to inform the handful of supporters it would be a late night.

“So, we’re just starting to see some of these results roll in, and I just want to level with you we are likely not going to know the Senate result until much later in the evening,” Rodriquez said.

Hovde mingled with guests at his party, and at least they could celebrate as state after state was called for Donald Trump.

Finally, when it was clear the absentee ballots out of the city of Milwaukee’s central county would not be enough for Harris to catch up to Trump in Wisconsin, the room erupted.

“Wisconsin is the state that put Donald Trump over 270 electoral votes last night,” said Schimming.

Democratic Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin discusses her victory over Republican candidate Eric Hovde during a speech on Nov. 7, 2024, in Madison. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

However, there were enough votes left for Baldwin to surpass Hovde, although she had to wait a long time to deliver her victory speech.

“And to the people — thank you for putting your trust in me as your United States senator!” she said. “Let’s get to work!”