Rep. Tom Tiffany buys domain names as he considers Senate bid against Tammy Baldwin

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany this week signaled he's considering a 2024 Senate run against incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, buying two website domain names in preparation for a potential bid.

Tiffany told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Monday that his team bought the domains "thomastiffanyforsenate.com" and "tomtiffany4senate.com" as he weighs a run against Baldwin, who announced her run for re-election last week. No Republican has declared a formal challenge to Baldwin for the swing-state seat that could help determine which party controls the Senate.

Tiffany, a Republican in his second term representing the 7th Congressional District, said his decision to run or not will hinge largely on what he feels is "best for the state of Wisconsin."

"You've got a career politician in Tammy Baldwin," Tiffany said. "Why do we have the highest inflation since the 1970s? Cost of living has gone through the roof for people in Wisconsin. Why do you have the high energy costs that are going up once again?"

"It's because of career politicians like Tammy Baldwin," Tiffany added, also mentioning crime and deaths from fentanyl as issues. "There needs to be changes made."

The move makes Tiffany the latest Republican to publicly signal he's considering a run for Senate as Democrats and Republicans alike ponder who might challenge Baldwin. Madison businessman Eric Hovde has said he's strongly considering a bid, and Republicans in Wisconsin are quietly hoping U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher mounts a run. Gallagher hasn't ruled it out.

Tiffany, 65, on Monday said what other potential challengers decide to do won't influence his decision. But when asked if he spoke with Gallagher about a Senate run, he told the Journal Sentinel: "I think Mike Gallagher should run," later noting Gallagher's more than $3 million in cash on hand and new chairmanship of a select committee on China.

"He'd be a good candidate," Tiffany said. "And that's ultimately what we're looking for."

Democrats were quick to criticize Tiffany, calling him "exactly the type of radical candidate that the Republican base will nominate and then go on to lose a general election."

"Tom Tiffany is an election-denying, anti-abortion extremist who wants to take away our health care, our Medicare and our Social Security," said Arik Wolk, a rapid response director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin's Senate race is likely to be among the most closely watched in the country. Democrats will attempt to maintain a slim majority in the Senate, and national Republicans have said they plan to target Wisconsin in their effort to flip the chamber.

Still, Baldwin is a formidable opponent and a proven fundraiser. She reported raising just over $2.1 million in the first three months of 2023 and had about $3.8 million in cash on hand as of the end of last month.

Tiffany has about $336,000 in his war chest.

He said that he's had conversations about a potential Senate bid with state party officials and members of the congressional delegation. But he suggested that he's focused on his current work in the House, where Republicans have a narrow majority.

“I don’t have a timeline. Let’s see how things play out," he told the Journal Sentinel in late March, before he bought the domain names. "We’re so busy at this point. I truly am just focused on the Natural Resources and Judiciary work that I’m doing."

He added: "And I believe when that time comes I’m going to recognize it, and at that point I will address the issue. Now is not the time.”

Follow Lawrence Andrea on Twitter @lawrencegandrea.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tom Tiffany buys domain names, considers Senate bid vs. Tammy Baldwin