Tammy Baldwin made history as the first openly gay person elected to the U.S. Senate and remains Wisconsin's first female senator, breaking barriers when she won her seat in 2012. A progressive champion who previously served seven terms in the House, she has been a leading advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare reform, and "Buy America" manufacturing policies that resonate with Wisconsin's industrial base. Baldwin has built a reputation as a pragmatic liberal who can win in a purple state, successfully defending her seat in 2018 even as Wisconsin voted for Republican candidates in other major races.