Former Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde’s case against numerous television stations, which objected to the airing of a commercial by a Democratic political action group, shall continue, a Brown County judge said Thursday, challenging the format of the arguments before him.
Hovde lost the November election to Senator Tammy Baldwin. In August, he filed a legal complaint against a number of stations around the state and their owners. Hovde argues that WinSenate PAC’s ad contains two defamatory allegations.
Judge Donald Zuidmulder heard arguments Thursday on a motion to dismiss the complaint, but advised the counsel that a summary judgment petition could be more suitable. He did not rule on the move to dismiss; instead, he allowed the counsel time to provide written arguments on the subject.
Judge Zuidmulder did not rule on Hovde’s defamation accusations during the hearing. He anticipates giving a written decision in the future weeks.
Brown County Judge Donald Zuidmulder hears arguments on a motion to dismiss former Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde’s lawsuit against multiple television stations on January 2, 2025. (WLUK, Don Steffens)
In addition to Hovde as a plaintiff, the complaint names the “Hovde for Wisconsin” campaign group as an aggrieved party. However, the judge stated that he is not certain this is acceptable.
“Defamation is not a cause of action that this committee can pursue,” Judge Zuidmulder stated.
WLUK-TV FOX 11 is not named as one of the defendants, but its parent company, Sinclair Broadcasting, is for allegations against WVTV-TV in Milwaukee. The parent companies of other Green Bay stations are named: Gray Media for WBAY-TV, Nextsar for WFRV-TV and Scripps Media for WGBA-TV and WACY-TV. Other stations across the state are also named in the lawsuit.