U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, is throwing her hat into the ring for the 2012 Senate race. If she wins she will be the first openly gay member of the U.S. Senate.

“All my life, the naysayers have told me that I can't win because I'm a progressive ... because I'm a woman ... even because I'm a lesbian. And I've proven them wrong because I've had rock-solid supporters like you standing with me," Rep. Baldwin is quoted as saying in the Huffington Post.

Baldwin intends to focus on improving economic life for the middle class, on bringing troops home from Afghanistan and Wall Street reform. A campaign video (see below) cites her previous stands against the war in Iraq and for keeping big banks regulated. She’s gotten statements of support from the Human Rights League and from Stephanie Schriock of Emily’s List, a group dedicated to helping elect pro-choice Democratic women.

Wisconsin Rep. Mark Neuman recently announced he would be running for the Republican nomination. The Blade notes that Neuman made news with his anti-gay remarks, quoting him in a New York Times piece from 1996 as saying “If I was elected God for a day, homosexuality wouldn’t be permitted, but nobody’s electing me God.”

No. Not today.

And for obvious reasons, good luck, Tammy!