Man Charged With Making Bomb Threat To Republican Senate Candidate Is Donor To Democrat Opponent

A Wisconsin man who donated to Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has been charged with making a bomb threat to the campaign office of her Republican challenger. 

Police charged 72-year-old Joseph Quade with making terrorist threats on Friday after investigating a message sent to the Senate campaign office of Eric Hovde that said the office “might blow up,” the Wisconsin State Journal reported. Hovde, a businessman, is attempting to unseat Baldwin in the November election.

“Hey (EH), you think your building might blow up tomorrow? I don’t think you should have any of your people come to work,” said the threatening message, which was sent via a voice memo attached to an email, according to the criminal complaint. 

Quade told police that he did not remember making the threat, but said he could get “a little political,” and it was possible he sent the message, the Journal reported. The threat to Hovde’s office in Madison was sent in on April 4. 

Quade has donated to Baldwin’s campaign on three separate occasions in 2023, according to Federal Election Commission data. His most recent donation came on December 29 and totaled $25. Previously he donated $25 and $50 to Baldwin’s campaign. 

In a statement to The Daily Wire, Baldwin’s campaign announced it would be donating the contributions to charity.

“Violence has no place in our politics and anyone who threatens violence has no place in our campaign. We will be donating this individual’s contributions to charity,” said campaign spokesman Andrew Mamo.

According to the complaint, Quade said he sometimes drinks too much and says things he doesn’t mean. If convicted, Quade could be sentenced to 3.5 years of combined prison and extended supervision, the Journal noted. He will go before a judge in Dane County Circuit Court on May 2. 

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A recent poll from Marquette University shows a close race between Baldwin and Hovde in the Badger State, with Baldwin at 52% among registered voters and Hovde at 47%. Baldwin, who is seeking her third term in the Senate, won her last election by over 10 points. 

The poll also showed former President Donald Trump leading President Joe Biden by two points. Trump was backed by 51% of registered voters while Biden was supported by 49%.

Wisconsin is expected to be a battleground state in 2024 with the winner likely going on to win the presidency. The Republican National Convention will be held in Milwaukee in July as they look to flip the state back after the 2020 election.