Eric Hovde attended Brown County event with man arrested in January 6 insurrection

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On the Ides of March, Urban Milwaukee first reported Eric Hovde was scheduled to attend a Brown County Republican Party event with convicted January 6 insurrectionist Brandon Straka.

Hovde — net worth of approximately $67 million — is challenging Sen. Tammy Baldwin in the November election for a U.S. Senate Seat, representing Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Democratic party issued a statement Wednesday noting Washington Post coverage of the event.

According to WisDems, Hovde and Straka spoke at the Green Bay event. Straka allegedly knowingly illegally entered Capitol grounds on January 6, 2021, and shouted “Take it!” to other rioters trying to steal a police officer’s shield.

The race between Baldwin and Hovde is significant as it could help decide which party holds majority control over the Senate.

Hovde, a wealthy hedge fund manager and real estate developer, ran unsuccessfully for a Senate seats nearly 10 years ago.

Straka was sentenced back in January 2022 to three months’ home detention, three years’ probation and a $5,000 fine for misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

The Wisconsin Law Journal attempted to reach Hovde’s campaign on Thursday, but no one was available for comment prior to publication.