Rebecca Cooke, a Democratic candidate, has officially announced her challenge to Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden. Cooke, a former small business owner and member of the state’s economic development board, previously ran for the seat in 2022 but lost the primary to state Sen. Brad Pfaff. Van Orden ultimately defeated Pfaff in the general election.
While Van Orden currently holds a strong position in Wisconsin’s third congressional district, which encompasses the right-trending driftless region, Democrats are relying on the possibility of a court-ordered redraw of the state’s congressional map to level the playing field.
In her bid for Congress, Cooke, who hails from a dairy farm background, emphasizes the unique challenges faced by rural communities and criticizes Van Orden as part of the problem in Washington. Democrats are targeting this seat as part of their strategy to regain control of the U.S. House in 2024.
Cooke finished in second place during the 2022 primary, losing to Brad Pfaff, who was subsequently defeated by Van Orden. Pfaff and other Democrats may also consider another run for the seat previously held by Democrat Ron Kind for over 24 years before his retirement in 2022. Pfaff had an 8-point lead over Cooke in the last election.
Rebecca Cooke is the first Democrat in Wisconsin to announce her congressional run for 2024. She has been actively engaging with the district since last year in anticipation of another campaign. If elected, she would become the first woman to represent the 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses cities such as Eau Claire, La Crosse, and Stevens Point, and borders Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois.
Although the district has been leaning towards Republicans, Democrats are hopeful that the boundaries will be redrawn after the Wisconsin Supreme Court transitions to a majority liberal control next month. An anticipated lawsuit challenging Republican-drawn district lines is expected to be filed in August.
Rebecca Cooke previously owned Red’s Mercantile boutique for seven years before closing it after her primary loss in 2022. She is also the founder of the Red Letter Grant, a nonprofit organization that supports female entrepreneurs. Additionally, she served on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Board as an appointee of Democratic Governor Tony Evers.
Van Orden and the Wisconsin Republican Party have not yet responded to requests for comment.
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