UNDATED (WSAU) A hedge fund manager from Washington will become the fifth Republican candidate for Wisconsin’s open U-S Senate seat. Madison native Eric Hovde will announce his bid today during appearances in Dane and Milwaukee. He’s the C-E-O of Hovde Capital Advisors, which manages hedge funds. Hovde also operates community banks, real estate investments, and a charitable family foundation. He has lived in Washington for the last two dozen years.

Hovde will join a Republican Senate field that includes former Governor Tommy Thompson, former Congressman Mark Neumann, state Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, and Rhinelander physical therapist Kip Smith.

The winner of the August 14th G-O-P primary is expected to face Madison House Democrat Tammy Baldwin in November for the Senate seat to be given up by the retiring Herb Kohl.