The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.
The road to a Democratic-led House and solving our economic problems goes through Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District (CD). The highly respected nonpartisan Cook Political Report has shifted the 3rd CD from lean Republican to toss-up: “Wisconsin’s sprawling, largely rural 3rd District voted for Trump by a seven-point margin in 2024. But Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden won reelection by less than three points against Rebecca Cooke, a 37 year-old (former) small business owner (now a waitress) who ran as an unabashed moderate. … Van Orden is in a different category than a generic Republican. Last year’s election results show that he’s turned off a significant segment of Trump voters … .”
The election numbers are stunning. Cooke ran ahead of Democrats in the 3rd CD, including presidential candidate Harris and Senator Baldwin. Cooke won independent and Trump voters. She built a rural, suburban and urban coalition throughout the district. Moreover, Cooke was adept at raising the necessary funds for a campaign. Importantly, she defied the conventional wisdom and ran strong.
Cooke is running hard to win in 2026. Nobody can outwork Cooke, daughter of a dairy farmer. And, she is without equal in listening and communicating with rural Wisconsinites. Cooke, a former president of a 4-H club, the Truax Eagles, knows first hand “the challenges facing farming families” (Cooke). She knows which side she is on and who to fight for.
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Cooke said: “We need one of us in Congress – working class folks who know what our families are going through, how to balance a budget, and spend within their means. I will take on the monopolies that have robbed our families of their farming heritage and decimated our rural economies. I’m focused on results and don’t care who gets the credit, as long as things get done.” Cooke is tough, empathetic, practical and no ideologue.
Cooke has a terrific campaign team. Her political director comes from a military family like Cooke. And, her campaign manager knows the 3rd CD and how to run a campaign. The Cooke website is engaging and informative. And, she has already raised about $2 million. Endorsements include 3rd CD unions, farmers, elected officials, small business owners, educators, health care workers and members of Congress in sync with rural CDs. Wisconsin and the nation need Cooke.
With the passage of the “Big Beautiful Act” by the GOP-led Congress, including all Wisconsin congressional Republicans, people will lose health care coverage (at least 33,000 in the 3rd CD), there will be more hunger, farmers will be punished, fewer higher education opportunities and a massive wealth transfer (budget cuts and tax dodges) from the middle and working classes to the super-rich. Van Orden sided with the super-rich, not the 3rd CD. Cooke is on the side of the middle and working classes.
Cooke is laser focused on an economy that works for regular folks. She is perhaps the most formidable Wisconsin congressional candidate. And, the 3rd CD race will be the most important 2026 Wisconsin congressional election.
– Kaplan wrote a guest column from Washington, D.C., for the Wisconsin State Journal from 1995 – 2009.
