If you've been watching this race develop all along, this move is no surprise:
Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., officially announced her Senate candidacy Tuesday morning, giving Democrats a top candidate with the ability to raise considerable funds as the party tries to hold the seat of retiring Sen. Herb Kohl.
"The middle class is getting slammed and no one seems to be listening. Well, I'm listening," Baldwin said in an email to supporters. "I think the political games have to stop and we should get this country working for the middle class. That's why I'm running for the Senate."
Baldwin has been gearing up for a run for months, even hinting at a Senate run in a prior fundraising email. She's the first Democrat to enter the race that already includes a Republican field that is shaping up to be crowded, with the recent entrance of former Rep. Mark Neumann and the expected entrance of former Gov. Tommy Thompson.
Baldwin also has a welcome video:
With Baldwin formally in the race now, two major questions emerge: Who else will run for the Democratic Senate nomination, and who will seek to replace her in the House? The major names still considering the former are Rep. Ron Kind (WI-03) and ex-Rep. Steve Kagen (WI-08), though its possible that previously undiscussed candidates could emerge. (Former Sen. Russ Feingold and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett previously declined.) Recent polling from PPP has shown Baldwin with an early advantage
in the primary and competitive (although several points behind)
in the general.
In terms of Baldwin's 2nd District House seat, state Rep. Mark Pocan signalled his intent to enter the race last week, even before Baldwin's announcement today. Other likely candidates include state Sen. Jon Erpenbach and state Rep. Kelda Helen Roys, but there's a good chance the Democratic primary here could get very crowded, given the safely blue nature of this district.
Given Wisconsin's swingish nature on the state level, though, the Senate race is likely to remain a tossup from now until election day. It will definitely be one to watch.