“Today, I’m announcing my campaign for the US Congress. Last November, we won the trust of voters from across the party spectrum, and we nearly sent a farm kid from Western Wisconsin to congress. The truth is we need more working-class voices like ours in Washington who have lived with failed policy and will fight like hell to build back the middle class.

Resilience is about not giving up against the odds. It reminds me of something my brother learned in the Navy - ‘you don't stop when you’re tired, you stop when it's done.’ So, let’s get to work.”  (Twitter, 3/11/25)

 

To hear directly from candidate Cooke, watch this short video:

Rebecca Cooke on Ali Velshi

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​BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

​Rebecca Cooke is a small-business owner and nonprofit leader. A 7th generation Wisconsin resident and graduate of University of St. Thomas, she grew up in Eau Claire and worked on her family’s dairy farm. During college, Cooke worked for a non-profit that supported low-income families and was involved with a social justice program. This experience provided a foundation for her commitment to service.

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Rebecca Cooke is founder of The Red Letter Grant, a nonprofit that “supports women entrepreneurs throughout ten counties in western Wisconsin.” (Ballotpedia). It provides support for female entrepreneurs with start-up capital, technical assistance, and networking opportunities. Previously she was appointed by Governor Tony Evers to the Board of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Cooke also operates an Airbnb business and waits on tables part-time at a local restaurant.

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Cooke ran unsuccessfully in the District 03 Democratic primary in 2022 and for the WI 03 congressional seat in ‘24. She lost that race to incumbent Derrick Van Orden, her opponent in ‘26, by 2.8%.

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ON THE ISSUES

​​Rebecca Cooke’s priorities are detailed on her campaign website. They include:

• Healing our healthcare system

• Creating an economy built for working families

• Fighting for Wisconsin’s original entrepreneur, the farmer

• Strengthening the working class and empowering unions

• Ensuring seniors age with dignity

• Protecting reproductive health freedoms

• Strengthening our education system

• Improving water quality and investing in clean energy

• Keeping Main Streets strong

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In detailing these issues, Cooke notes:
“I won’t solve all our problems overnight, but I’ll sure as hell try. We might not see eye to eye on everything, but I’m going to fight for the region’s future.” (Campaign Website)

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POLITICS IN WISCONSIN

Wisconsin has emerged as a critical battleground state. In 2020, Biden narrowly carried it by 0.7% and Trump carried it in ‘16 by 0.8% and by .09 % in 2024.

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Though Democrats made gains in ‘24 in the state’s legislature, both the Assembly and Senate are majority Republican.  Wisconsin’s governor, secretary of state and attorney general are Democrats, and the Supreme Court has a liberal majority.

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In Congress, Wisconsin has one Democratic and one Republican senator. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) was re-elected in 2024 for another six-year term. Only two of the state’s eight House delegation are Democrats.

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Wisconsin has been at the center of a strong and controversial gerrymander favoring Republicans following the 2020 census. Democratic strength is largely concentrated in the urban areas of Milwaukee and Dane counties and Republicans generally have strength in rural areas including District 03.

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District 03 includes the Driftless Area in southwestern Wisconsin including Eau Claire and La Crosse. It borders Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois.

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The incumbent is first term Republican Derrick Van Orden who flipped the seat in ‘22 with 51.9% and won a second term in ‘24 defeating Rebecca Cooke by 2.8%.

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Though there is another declared Democratic candidate in the WI 03 race, Cooke is dominating in fundraising and is the choice of the Democratic party as the presumptive nominee. If needed, the Wisconsin primary is scheduled for August 11.

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The WI 03 race is rated Toss Up by both the Cook and Sabato; neither party has an advantage at this point. WI 03 represents an excellent “flip” opportunity for Democrats.

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