The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.
Trump’s cruelty, incompetence and chaos impact Wisconsin. Trump is dismantling the federal government, “300,000 fewer federal workers” (NYT). Agencies have been hollowed out or abolished by fiat. Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano, former CEO of Fiserv-Milwaukee, operates a wrecking ball with dire consequences for Social Security-Medicare recipients – no help, unanswered questions and massive backlogs. That’s also the future for our veterans.
Moreover, the GOP-led Congress, abetted by Trump, ran out the clock and let enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expire. Millions of Americans, including 275,000 Wisconsinites, face skyrocketing health insurance premiums. These are farmers, small business owners, workers not covered by their employers, self-employed and veterans. Meanwhile, farmers are being crushed by Trump’s trade wars, loss of markets and inflation.
Wisconsin will need capable, wise political leaders in 2026 to navigate these treacherous shoals: Rebecca Cooke, Democratic challenger to 3rd Congressional District (CD) GOP Representative Derrick Van Orden; Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson and Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez, Democratic candidate for governor. All three embody the life experience, common sense, principles and wisdom to help solve Wisconsin’s problems and counter the destructive tsunami from Washington.
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Rebecca Cooke is one of the most capable and extraordinary candidates for the U.S. House that I have ever seen. Born and raised on a dairy farm, she was president of her 4-H club, the Truax Eagles. That’s who she is. No wonder Cooke connects to voters throughout the 3rd CD, whatever their political preference. She has never forgotten that she comes from a military, working class family. Cooke almost prevailed over Van Orden in 2024, separated by about 11,000 votes, and ran ahead of other Democrats, including presidential candidate Harris and Senator Baldwin.
This is the only Wisconsin House race in play. The respected Cook Political Report shifted the 3rd CD from lean-Republican to toss-up. Cooke has “dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s”: knows the issues and people, campaigns widely (check out her website), put together a broad coalition and is well-funded. There are also other impressive leaders to watch.
4-time elected Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson is a big idea person with a common touch. He wins in a rural county won by Trump three times. Nelson, son of a minister, knows the Social Gospel and wrote a book entitled “Wrecked The Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy”. He rebukes corporate mismanagement and calls for revitalizing American shipbuilding, including in Wisconsin (see his recent article in National Review). Nelson makes common cause with all on the issue of economic fairness.
Finally, there’s Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, running for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Watch her announcement video. Like Cooke she’s from a military, working class family with moxie, drive and smarts. Rodriguez is best positioned among all Democratic candidates to run statewide and win in November. She has already visited all 72 Wisconsin counties. Rodriguez is taking off.
Cooke, Nelson and Rodriguez bridge rural, suburban and urban divides. Like Justice Susan Crawford’s 2025 election, Wisconsin offers hope in 2026.
– Kaplan wrote a guest column from Washington, D.C., for the Wisconsin State Journal from 1995 – 2009.
