LA CROSSE, WI. – A new report today is raising questions about Rebecca Cooke’s commitment to showing up for the voters she wants to represent, as Democratic leaders across Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District say her campaign has been noticeably absent from local communities.

Despite spending millions of dollars on television advertising and hundreds of thousands more on direct mail, Cooke’s own party leaders say she has struggled to build relationships with county organizations and local voters because she simply has not been present.

  • Monroe County Democratic Chair Jill McMullen said county parties were unhappy with national Democrats’ early effort to anoint Cooke as the nominee and noted that Emily Berge has been “the most engaged” candidate throughout the campaign.
  • Portage County Democratic Party Co-Chair Gary Hawley said that lingering frustration from the 2024 primary, combined with Cooke’s failure to show up in the county until recently, has left Portage County “heavy Berge.”

“The Rebecca Cooke Democrats sold to voters is starting to fall apart and it’s her own party who is helping expose it. Behind the polished campaign image is a candidate facing growing questions about her record, her credibility, and why she hasn’t shown up for the communities she claims to represent.” – Grace Kim, Campaign Spox