EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. — Today, Rebecca Cooke, candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District, announced 50 more endorsements from state and local electeds from across the state in a show of bipartisan support going into the election.
These 100 total endorsements come from mayors, council members, board members, and community leaders from every corner of Wisconsin’s Third District. Together, they send a resounding message: Western Wisconsinites want working-class, people-first leaders, and reject Derrick Van Orden’s betrayal of working families in favor of big corporations and Washington elites.
“Local leaders are at the center of delivering for communities across Wisconsin’s Third, and I am deeply grateful for their support. These leaders understand firsthand the challenges working families face and what it takes to meet their needs,” said Rebecca Cooke. “I look forward to continued collaboration between local and federal government to lower costs, protect our small businesses and farms, and make government work better for the people it serves. By uniting across county and party lines, we can fight for what matters most to our communities.”
The 50 new local elected leaders endorsing Rebecca include:
- Joni Anderson, Adams-Friendship School Board
- Jon Aubart, Pierce County Board Chair
- Bob Bachman, Elk Mound Village Trustee
- Troy Bier, Wisconsin Rapids School Board
- David Burnett, Sparta School Board, President
- Colin Burns-Gilbert, Sparta School Board, Vice President
- Dave Carlson, Galesville Common Council, Ward 2
- Ed Chamberlain, Jackson County Board of Supervisors, District 19
- Loralee Clark, Eau Claire County Board, District 27
- Les Danielson, Chippewa County Board Supervisor, District 6
- Dan Dixon, Chippewa Falls City Council, District 5
- Steve Duffrin, La Crosse County Board, District 14
- Joey Esterline, Monroe County Board
- Ray French, Eau Claire County Board, District 17
- Desiree Gearing-Lancaster, Jackson County Board, District 16 and Black River Falls City Council
- Remy Gomez, Monroe County Board, District 13
- Neil Gulbranson, Pierce County Board
- Paul Hoch, Former Pepin County Board of Supervisors
- Gary Jepsen, Alma City Council President Ward 1
- Sen. Sarah Keyeski, Wisconsin State Senator, 14th District
- Mary Kneebone, Stevens Point City Council
- Joe Knight, Eau Claire County Board, District 3
- Monica Kruse, La Crosse County Board Member, District 15
- Sam Lang, Stevens Point City Council
- Robin Leary, Former Eau Claire City Council
- Jeremy Lebrick, Stevens Point School Board
- Kelly Leibold, La Crosse County Board Member, District 1
- Julie Lundstrom, Ellsworth School Board, President
- Dillon Mader, La Crosse County Board Member, District 30
- Doug Mahon, Wood County Board, Former Chair
- Jody Marr, Chippewa Falls City Council
- Claire McCarty, Pierce County Board
- Matt Moldenhauer, Stevens Point City Council
- Gary Padesky, La Crosse City Council, District 7
- Elizabeth Potter-Nelson, Stevens Point Area School Board
- Jeff Prince, Colfax Village Board, President
- Darcy Rood, Sparta School Board, Clerk
- Anthony Scholze, Former Sparta School Board, President
- Nathaniel Slack, Vernon County Board Supervisor, District 7
- Larry Sleznikow, La Crosse City Council Member, District 4
- Nick Smiar, Former Eau Claire County Commissioner
- Abe Smith, Menomonie School Board
- Kathi Stebbins-Hintz, Wisconsin Rapids School Board
- Brad Steiner, Crawford County Board, Prairie du Chien, District 4
- Doug Stingle, Portage County Board
- Dana Wachs, Attorney; Former Wisconsin State Assembly Member
- Terry Weld, Former Eau Claire City Council, President
- Brian Whisenant, Platteville Common Council, District 4
- Gerald Wilkie, Eau Claire County Board, District 19
- Paul Wuensch, La Crosse County Board Member, District 27
- Chris Zindorf, Juneau County Board District 7
“Rebecca Cooke understands what families in western Wisconsin are up against. She’s focused on lowering costs, protecting access to healthcare, and creating economic opportunity in our rural communities. She’s spent her career as a small business owner and community builder, and she’ll go to Congress to work for us, not for special interests. I’m excited to endorse Rebecca and to partner with her to deliver for the communities we both care about,” said Sen. Sarah Keyeski, Wisconsin’s 14th State Senate District.
“Western Wisconsin families deserve better than a representative who spends his time trying to please Washington elites instead of advocating for the needs of his district. People are working hard, but costs keep rising, healthcare remains out of reach for so many, and our rural communities aren’t getting the support they need to thrive. We can’t keep doing things the same way and expect different results. It’s time for a change, and Rebecca Cooke is the kind of leader who will fight for us in Congress and finally get results,” said Jon Aubart, Pierce County Board Chair.
“As a brain cancer survivor who relied on Medicaid to complete my treatment, I appreciate Rebecca’s strong focus on affordable and accessible healthcare for everyone across the 3rd CD. We finally have a chance to flip this seat, and we deserve a representative in Congress who won’t actively harm their constituents like Derrick Van Orden does repeatedly. Rebecca knows what it means to serve,” said Kelly Leibold, La Crosse County Board Member.
“Our country needs leaders who will stand up to this administration that is destroying our nation, defend all our civil rights, and reclaim the congressional powers that are the checks and balances that the U.S. Constitution ordained. We need champions of working-class people who will stop the techno-oligarchs behind both the affordability crisis and the data centers being built to power their idealized, Orwellian surveillance state once they finally buy our democracy. Rebecca Cooke will hold the Zillionaire Oligarchs accountable, stop this illegal war, and stop these criminals who have abused public office. Oh, and unlike her opponent, she knows the difference between a Jersey and a Brown Swiss. Just saying,” said Sam Lang, Stevens Point City Council Member.
“It is time for leaders who understand the needs of working families in Western Wisconsin. Rebecca’s leadership is rooted in lived experience. She knows how hard it is to get food on the table, keep a business running, and fill up a tank of gas when times are hard. These problems have been tossed to the side by politicians in Washington for too long. I trust Rebecca’s promise to deliver for us and I am excited to see the change she can make.” said Ray French, Eau Claire County Board Member.
Rebecca is also endorsed by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin, Pete Buttigieg, 16 Members of Congress, State Senator Brad Pfaff, Iron Workers Locals 383 and 512, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Wisconsin State Council of Machinists, AFSCME, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Councils 7 & 82, Office and Professional Employees International Union, Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART) Union, UFCW Local 1473, Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council, IBEW State Conference, NRDC Action Fund, League of Conservation Voters, American Association for Justice (AAJ), End Citizens United, the Blue Dog Coalition, the New Dem Action Fund, Elect Democratic Women, EMILY’s List, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare PAC. She’s garnered the support of a broad coalition of farmers, small business owners, educators and healthcare workers across western Wisconsin.
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