EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. – Today, small business and nonprofit leader Rebecca Cooke, Democratic candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s Third District, announced raising more than $100,000 in under 72 hours.
Cooke kicked off her campaign earlier this week and continues to build upon her strong base of support from the 2022 primary, during which she won a majority of the district’s counties despite being significantly outspent.
“It’s clear that Washington isn’t working for our communities, and Derrick Van Orden is at the center of the problem,” Cooke said Thursday. “I’m running for Congress because western Wisconsin deserves a fighter with the determination, resolve, and lived experience it takes to solve problems and get things done for the people for a change.”
Previous post – Monday, July 10
Rebecca Cooke launches congressional campaign in Wisconsin’s third district
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Eau Claire area Democrat Rebeeca Cooke is the first candidate to announce she is jumping into the race for the third congressional district in Western Wisconsin. 35-year-old Cooke ran for the seat in the last election cycle but lost to fellow Democrat Brad Pfaff in the primary. Pfaff went on to lose in the general election to Republican Derrick Van Orden by about three pecent. Cooke did outperform expectations in that primary coming in second with 31.2 percent of the vote with Pfaff pulling in 38.9 percent. Cooke did well by winning the majority of the rural counties with Pfaff dominating the more heavily populated counties.
Other candidates that ran in the Democratic primary last election included former CIA officer Deb McGrath and La Crosse Ald. Mark Neumann. Cooke’s performance surprised some who had predicted McGrath was perhaps a stronger challenger to Pfaff because of her long resume and federal government experience.
Cooke said that showing in rural areas is a positive for a Democrat since many rural counties are heavily red areas. Cooke also pointed to other qualifications for the seat including the fact that she was born and raised on an Eau Claire dairy farm, being a small business owner, leading a non-profit that helps women entrepreneurs, and in her service at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Cooke wasted no time in criticizing the incumbent, first term congressman Derrick Van Orden who has aligned himself with the far right wing of Republican Party, accepting an endorsement from Donald Trump and being present and the January 6 insurrection.
“From his dangerous attacks on reproductive healthcare to his attempt to overthrow the government, extremist Republican Derrick Van Orden is among the most vulnerable incumbents in the country,” said Cooke.
Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District is on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Districts in Play” list and expected to be a key battleground in the 2024 battle for the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat has a long history as one of the most purple in the country. Prior to Van Orden winning the seat it has been held by Democrat Ron Kind for 26 years and before that Republican Steve Gundersen for 16 years. It went for Obama in the presidential race and then for Trump.
“Our rural communities face unique challenges. It’s clear that Washington isn’t working for us, and Derrick Van Orden is part of the problem,” Cooke said. “Families are struggling to get by and deserve a champion who knows what it’s like to make ends meet and actually shows up for neighbors in need. I’m running for Congress to better serve communities across Wisconsin, provide more opportunities for success, and be a relentless fighter for our way of life.”
“We need new perspectives in Congress who look like America, who live in our rural communities, are farmers, know what it’s like to worry about making payroll and rent any given month, and understand the challenges facing working families today struggling to get by,” Cooke said.
Cooke said as part of the launch, she will be kicking off a robust, multi-channel engagement campaign, including sharable digital content, social media, email, earned media, and a series of in-person events across the district in the coming weeks.
“I’m in this fight for the people of Wisconsin,” Cooke said. “There’s great excitement across the region, and for months, local advocates, small business owners, community leaders, farmers, workers, and stakeholders have all encouraged me to take this step. Together, I know we can outwork, outorganize, and win this race.”
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