Sen. Tammy Baldwin D-Wis. is facing increased scrutiny over her relationship with Maria Brisbane, a private wealth adviser, and the potential conflict of interest it poses. Baldwin and Brisbane, who have been dating since 2018, jointly own a residence in Washington, D.C. However, because they are unmarried, Baldwin is not required by Senate rules to disclose Brisbane’s financial assets or client list. This has drawn criticism from Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde, whose campaign has labeled the relationship a potential ethical issue.
Hovde’s campaign has raised concerns about Brisbane’s role advising high-net-worth individuals, some of whom may be involved in industries regulated by Baldwin. The Fix Washington PAC, which supports Hovde, released an ad questioning Baldwin’s lack of disclosure about Brisbane’s clients and assets, particularly in industries such as biotechnology, where Baldwin’s Senate role could create a conflict of interest.
Baldwin’s campaign has dismissed the claims, stating that the senator has never shared inside information with Brisbane and highlighting Baldwin’s efforts to ban senators from trading individual stocks. In response, Baldwin’s spokesperson criticized Hovde for attacking Baldwin’s personal relationship, while also pointing out potential conflicts involving Hovde’s own business interests.
The situation highlights a larger debate on financial disclosure rules for senators and their partners, particularly in cases where couples are unmarried but share assets. Despite the controversy, Baldwin remains compliant with current Senate disclosure rules, which do not require her to report her partner’s financial information.