Cooke campaign: Derrick Van Orden dodges real debate hosted by the LAX Chamber of Commerce.

Cooke Campaign withdraws from negotiations.

EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. — Since the beginning of September, the Cooke Campaign has engaged in good-faith negotiations for a non-partisan debate hosted by the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce. Because the economy is so central to the concerns Rebecca hears from voters every day, the Cooke Campaign proactively reached out to the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce to organize a non-partisan debate — with no preconditions on format — and offered 10 dates in October. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Van Orden’s campaign.

Unfortunately, it has become clear that Congressman Van Orden — who still hasn’t held a single in-person town hall with constituents — is not willing to participate in a non-partisan debate. The Van Orden Campaign agreed that two dates would work, before reneging on that commitment. Meanwhile, they have arranged multiple partisan invitations which they have accepted within minutes and sent promptly to press while dragging their feet on active negotiations with non-partisan partners. These include proposals from the Wisconsin Gun Owners Association, the Kansas-based Hunter Nation, and a host whose radio show’s Facebook page features partisan comments including “this is why you can’t elect Democrats.” The Van Orden Campaign has violated the trust of potential hosts by going to press before negotiations had even begun. 

Statement from Campaign Spokesman:

“After refusing to hold a single in-person town hall with his constituents since taking office, Congressman Van Orden is dodging real debates and hiding behind partisan stunts because he can’t defend his record of passing huge tax breaks for data centers, cutting healthcare for Wisconsinites, and continuing to cheerlead the disastrous war in Iran which is driving up prices to catastrophic levels for working families, small businesses, and family farms across Wisconsin’s Third District.”

REMINDER: Derrick Van Orden has never held a debate with any of his Democratic opponents despite having four cycles and endless opportunities to do so. He cannot defend his record. 

BACKGROUND:

See below for a detailed timeline of good-faith debate negotiations the Cooke Campaign engaged with in hopes of arranging a debate hosted by the nonpartisan La Crosse Chamber of Commerce. 

Wednesday, September 2nd: The Cooke Campaign approaches the Chamber of Commerce to arrange a non-partisan debate.

Tuesday, September 8th: The Cooke Campaign offers ten dates in October, including the 20th and 21st of the month. 

Monday, September 14th: The Van Orden Campaign says that the 20th and 21st will work for them, but also asks if a debate could be delayed until the final week before the election. 

Tuesday, September 15th: The Cooke Campaign asks to move forward with the dates that both campaigns agreed would work, noting that they cannot do the final week before the election because of previously scheduled GOTV events. The Van Orden Campaign now cites scheduling conflicts during the evenings of the 20th and 21st, despite agreeing to them on the previous day. They instead again ask for the week immediately prior to the election, which is unworkable for the Cooke Campaign given the proximity to the election and previously scheduled events.

Tuesday, September 15th: Cooke Campaign offers a time for both campaigns to meet virtually and discuss scheduling challenges and format. There is no immediate response from the Van Orden Campaign.

Wednesday, September 16th: The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin sends a confidential debate proposal to both the Van Orden and Cooke campaigns, to begin discussions. The Van Orden team accepts this proposal immediately.

Thursday, September 17th: The Van Orden Campaign violates the confidentiality of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin by sending their debate proposal directly to the press. The Cooke Campaign declines this proposal citing posts from the host’s radio show stating “this is why you can’t elect Democrats” among others showing partisan bias.

Tuesday, September 22nd: The Van Orden Campaign now agrees it can meet virtually during the time proposed the previous week. This time no longer works for the Cooke Campaign, and a new time on Monday September, September 29th is agreed upon. 

Wednesday, September 23rd: The Van Orden Campaign now insists on meeting before Sunday, September 28th citing competing debate offers that they have received and the need to consider them internally. The Cooke Campaign has received no such invitations, meaning the Van Orden Campaign is aware of something the Cooke Campaign is not. 

Press who are interested in documentation of these negotiations for background sourcing purposes should contact press@cookeforwisconsin.com.