Rebecca Cook’s Campaign for Congressional Seat
Democratic candidate Rebecca Cook is making her third attempt to secure a seat in a district that has consistently voted for President Donald Trump. Cook, who previously faced Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden and lost, will join Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for a town hall event on August 23 as part of his “Fighting Olgarki” tour.
Cook, who has a background as a political strategist, aims for the Democratic nomination in this purple district. Trump has carried this district in the last three presidential elections. In a close race last November, Cook trailed Van Orden by only 3 percentage points, with Democrats losing ground despite a decent turnout that favored Vice President Kamala Harris by about 10,000 votes.
According to a nonpartisan report from Cook Political Report, this election is one of eight seats held by Republicans that are considered toss-ups. Van Orden represents Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District, which shows a slight Republican lean in voting patterns. Recent elections indicated Republican support averaging three points above the national average, with Trump winning the district by over 7 percentage points in 2024.
Even with the moderate voting trends in districts leaning towards Trump, Cook is embracing Bernie Sanders and his social agenda in her campaign. In June, Sanders expressed his endorsement, emphasizing shared goals regarding working-class opportunities and initiatives like raising the minimum wage and expanding Medicare if she were elected.
Cook describes herself as both a “blue dog” and a progressive, suggesting that there is a place for progressive ideas even in competitive areas. Following Sanders’ endorsement, she noted the presence of moderate Democratic groups supporting her campaign.
On social media, Cook’s campaign has shared images featuring both her and Sanders, signaling a united front in their efforts.
However, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has criticized her affiliation with Sanders, suggesting that voters should be wary of her candidacy. An NRCC spokesperson labeled Cook and her past attempts as insufficient for representing the values of Wisconsin families.
The Blue Dog PAC, which focuses on electing moderate Democrats, has still decided to support Cook’s endeavor, marking her as an early endorsement in the 2026 election cycle. Cook previously ran for this same congressional seat in 2022 but was defeated in the Democratic primary by 8 points.
Both Cook and Van Orden’s communication teams have not responded to requests for comment on these developments.
