US Sen. Tammy Baldwin on Her 2024 Win And The 119th Congress

Frederica Freyberg:
Just off her third win for U.S. Senate, Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin says she has not yet received a call from her Republican challenger Eric Hovde. Hovde did formally concede this week, but it came two weeks after the election and he continued to cast doubt on the razor tight results. Senator Baldwin is back in Washington and joins us now. And thanks very much for being here.

Tammy Baldwin:
It’s my pleasure to join you.

Frederica Freyberg:
So congratulations on your win.

Tammy Baldwin:
Thank you.

Frederica Freyberg:
What is your reaction to Eric Hovde continuing to cast doubt, though, on the election process?

Tammy Baldwin:
Look, it was a free and fair election and the results are in. I stand by what the Wisconsin voters have done in terms of placing their trust in me for another term, but also electing Donald Trump as their presidential candidate. And I think it’s incumbent upon all candidates to stand by the results of a free and fair election.

Frederica Freyberg:
What allowed you to narrowly win while Kamala Harris fell short?

Tammy Baldwin:
You know, my M.O. as a senator but also as a candidate for reelection is to travel the state extensively. Show up matters — showing up matters. I listen deeply to people, and then I deliver results. And I’ve done this now for years. I don’t just go to blue parts of the state. I go to deeply red parts of the state, rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas. And I think showing up really does matter. And I think that it takes time to build trust and to build relationships. And that’s what I’ve invested in.

Frederica Freyberg:
Clearly, out of the new Trump administration, we’re looking at some seismic policy shifts with Republicans taking both chambers and the presidency. What can you and others in the minority meaningfully accomplish?

Tammy Baldwin:
Look, I’m going to approach this session the same way I have all the time. I’m fighting for Wisconsin, and there are things that I can do in a bipartisan basis to fight for the people of this state, as I have in the past. I’ve served in both the minority and the majority party in the United States Senate. And when there are things that this administration offers that are not in the interests of the people of Wisconsin, I will stand up to them. And that’s always what I’ve been — what I’ve done, regardless of who is president and regardless of which party is in control of the Senate.

Frederica Freyberg:
So as to President-elect Trump’s cabinet picks, what is your reaction to some of those nominated and I will name them. Tulsi Gabbard for National Intelligence, Pete Hegseth for Defense and RFK Jr. for Health and Human Services.

Tammy Baldwin:
I expect that these candidates will be vetted first and then we will have hearings. I’m already thinking about the type of questions I would want to ask somebody like the nominee, Kennedy, to head Health and Human Services. I mean, Wisconsinites rely upon, you know, vaccines to prevent things like measles and mumps. We rely upon the National Institutes for Health to be doing cutting edge research, to try to create better treatments for cancer and cures for disease. We rely on the Centers for Disease Prevention for preventative measures. And I want to have a clear understanding of how these nominees would steward these agencies. And so I expect that the process of advise and consent will take place, and I will fight for that, and I will scrutinize these nominees very carefully.

Frederica Freyberg:
Former Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy was selected for transportation secretary. How might that benefit Wisconsin?

Tammy Baldwin:
Well, we have passed the bipartisan infrastructure law, and we have a number of really vital projects that are going on in the state. Among them, efforts to build out broadband so that every resident in Wisconsin has access to high-speed internet. We have a bridge project in northern Wisconsin connecting the city of Superior with the city of Duluth in Minnesota, the Blatnik Bridge replacement project. There’s $1 billion of federal funding going into that project. We have amazing things happening throughout the state, including major investments in public transit. And I think having a Wisconsin candidate filling that position is something that would be very helpful in terms of advocacy for completion of those projects.

Frederica Freyberg:
What real concerns do you have that the Affordable Care Act, which you were so involved in, will be scratched and what would be the implications of that?

Tammy Baldwin:
Well, I certainly worry, as I have heard, you know, within the last year, President-elect Trump talk about repealing the Affordable Care Act. It would have devastating results. There are tens of millions of Americans who have health care because of the Affordable Care Act. The fact that we have told the powerful insurance companies that you can no longer discriminate against people based on a preexisting health condition or existing health condition, has meant that so many can now get health care who couldn’t in the years before the Affordable Care Act. But I think we also have to build upon it. And so we have to fight against any efforts to repeal. But we also have to make it even more accessible and affordable for Americans.

Frederica Freyberg:
You just voted “present” on three resolutions to block arms sales to Israel. Why?

Tammy Baldwin:
You know, the measures that were before the Senate did not achieve the goals that I have articulated time and time again. So, first of all, Israel has the right to defend itself. The attacks on October 7th by Hamas terrorists were horrific, killing 1200 resulting in hostages being taken, including some American hostages. But the conduct of the Netanyahu government in executing its war in Gaza has caused the lives of too many innocent Palestinians to be lost. And I have called for a cease fire for nearly a year now. That has to happen. The hostages must be released. We must surge humanitarian aid into Gaza. Those are the goals that I have. And the vote options before me yesterday did not achieve those goals.

Frederica Freyberg:
What will be your sharp focus now that you’re back in Washington?

Tammy Baldwin:
All right. So it’s definitely fighting for Wisconsin. And it’s the kitchen table issues that I’ve been hearing about throughout this campaign and throughout recent years. You know, the affordability of things that people need: groceries, their health care, their prescription medications, housing, childcare. Those things are vital. And a champion for a plan to restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land.

Frederica Freyberg:
What is your message to Wisconsin, so narrowly split politically, so purple?

Tammy Baldwin:
Look, I still think we have a lot more in common than we do that separates us and I know a lot of people are still in disbelief that Wisconsinites place their trust in me but also opted to elect Donald Trump both by narrow margins. But I think it is about, you know, that we have much more in common.

Frederica Freyberg:
Senator Tammy Baldin, thank you very much.

Tammy Baldwin:
Thank you for having me.