Tammy Baldwin's victory in Wisconsin made history for two reasons: Firstly, she becomes the first woman senator from the state, secondly and most importantly, this Democratic Representative becomes the first openly gay U.S. Senator.
In one of the most expensive senate race in the history of Wisconsin, Baldwin defeated former governor Tommy Thompson, who the Republicans thought would be saved on his crossover votes. Thompson, the former four-term Wisconsin GOP governor, has been out of politics for 12 years working as a healthcare lobbyist. He also had served as health secretary in the Bush administration.
Representing Dane County, a Democratic stronghold of the state, Baldwin cemented her way up promising to support investments in infrastructure, education and research to create jobs. She criticized her opponent Thompson for a policy that favors tax cuts for the wealthy.
Thompson, on the other hand, attacked her for supporting Obama's healthcare reforms. His campaign highlights were lower taxes, fewer regulations, large spending cuts and entitlement reform, all of which he believed will boost the sluggish U.S. economy.
Baldwin's sexual orientation, however, never became a major topic on the campaign trail. She is expected to be replaced by Democrat Mark Pocan, another openly gay politician, in the House. "It almost never comes up. It's been a race that has been flat out on economic issues," Baldwin, a seven-term congresswoman, told The Guardian recently.
Baldwin, 50, who has represented the liberal college town of Madison in the House of Representatives for 14 years, was widely backed by volunteers from the Victory Fund, which works to get LGBT candidates to elected office.
Her significant victory is eagerly watched over as Wisconsin has a history to tell about same-sex marriage. Wisconsin voted and approved on one of those gay marriage bans six years ago. It remains to be seen as what she would do with the sensitive and controversial social/political issue.
