Candidate forum
Candidate Forum in La Crosse
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Rebecca Cooke
WI-03Last updated July 22nd, 2026 at 9:50pm GMT.
State of the Race
Voters will see on broadcast in La Crosse and Wausau that Derrick Van Orden is a Navy SEAL who defended our country and delivers for Wisconsin.
Voters also need to see on broadcast in La Crosse and Wausau the contrast between:
- A Navy SEAL who isn’t a career politician and puts service above self. Van Orden is leading in Washington to deliver tax cuts to Wisconsin families and ban members of Congress from owning and trading stocks while in office.
- A phony political operative who has raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars working for a DC-based dark money group. Cooke campaigns as a waitress and a moderate when she’s a liberal activist who has called for defunding police and accepted thousands from a group that supports transgender surgery for minors.
Key Dates
| Voter Registration Deadline: | By Mail: Wednesday, October 14th (postmarked) In Person: Tuesday, November 3rd |
| Early In-Person Voting: | October 20th to November 1st (End date set by municipality; can end before November 1st) |
| Absentee Voting by Mail: | AB ballots start being mailed on September 17th; in-person absentee ballots begin to be issued on October 20th |
| AB Request Deadline: | By 5:00 pm on October 29th |
| AB Deadline Return: | Must be delivered by 8:00pm on Election Day, November 3rd |
| AB Deadline Return via USPS: | Must be received by 8:00pm on Election Day, November 3rd |
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Supports Transgender Agenda
Rebecca Cooke has accepted thousands from a group that supports transgender surgeries for minors.
Videos
Photos
Derrick Van Orden is a retired Navy SEAL, husband, father and grandfather. Derrick and his brother were raised in rural poverty by their mother, Carol. Derrick’s journey of public service started when he joined the Navy at the age of 18 and served for 26 years. He retired as a Navy SEAL Senior Chief with 5 combat deployments and several others to troubled areas in the world.
In Congress, Derrick Van Order has fought to expand benefits for our veterans by increasing access to help lines, expanding rehabilitation programs, and streamlining access to educational opportunities.
Derrick is not a career politician- he’s a Navy SEAL who serves his country above party and above self. That’s why as Congressman, Derrick Van Orden is leading the fight to ban members of Congress from owning and trading stocks while in office.
During his time in office, Derrick has delivered real results to Wisconsin families:
- Advocate for Farmers: Secured the largest investment for farmers in a generation. He doubled the death tax exemption to protect family farms, and secured funding to support dairy businesses from production to market, strengthening and extending the farm safety net.
- Champion for Rural Healthcare: Secured over 200 million dollars for improving hospitals and medical clinics in Wisconsin.
Anti- Cooke
Far-Left Radical
The Hill: Sanders wades into battleground district with Wisconsin endorsement
Washington Free Beacon: Wisconsin Democrat Running in Swing House District Calls Her Politics ‘Somewhere in the Middle’—Then Endorses NYC Socialist Mamdani
Breitbart: Exclusive Video: Democrat Congressional Candidate Rebecca Cooke Endorsed Socialist Mamdani, Refuses to Say if He Will Campaign with Her
New York Post: In Wisconsin’s hottest House race, Democratic challenger claims she’s an immigration moderate — but the record says otherwise
Center Square: Wisconsin 3rd Congressional race has focus on Chinese connections
Fox News: GOP candidate warns Bernie-backed Dem rival’s green ties could hit farms, energy
Townhall: Wisconsin Congressional Candidate Rebecca Cooke Flees When Confronted About Her Stance on ICE
Townhall: Democrat Wisconsin House Candidate Campaigns With Architect of Sanctuary City Policies
National Review: ‘AR-15s Have No Place at a Deer Camp’: Wisconsin Democrat Running as Moderate Calls for Banning Popular Rifle Platform
Townhall: Wisconsin Democrat Rebecca Cooke Stakes Out Hardline Gun Control in Key Wisconsin Race
Breitbart: Dem Welcomes Endorsement from Union that Defends Illegal Migrant Truckers
Townhall: Wisconsin House Candidate Denounces Violence While Campaigning With Extremists
Wisconsin Right Now: Rebecca Cooke Would Make Western Wisconsin a ‘Magnet’ for Illegal Immigration
Fox News: Wisconsin Dem touts endorsement from union pushing back against CDL crackdowns on illegal alien truckers
The Federalist: WI Leftist In Moderate’s Clothing Endorsed By Teachers Union That Backs Radical Trans Agenda
The Heartland Post: Rebecca Cooke Embraces Endorsement from Union Backing CDL Access for Illegal Immigrants
Wisconsin Right Now: Far Left Candidate Rebecca Cooke Pushes GUN CONTROL in 3rd Congressional District
Wisconsin Right Now: Hey Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Congressional Candidate Rebecca Cooke Thinks You’re Racist
The Heartland Post: Exclusive: Dem Congressional Candidate Cooke Called Hometown of Eau Claire Racist
Townhall: Wisconsin Dem recruit calls for U.S. to halt arms to Israel
Shady Political Operative
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bice: Cooke says she’s a political outsider but raked in nearly $200K for political work
New York Post: Dem congressional candidate accused of making ‘shady deal’ after she worked for business her nonprofit gave grants to
Wisconsin Right Now: Rebecca Cooke Was a ‘Sleazy’ Political Operative Before Running for Congress in Wisconsin
Washington Examiner: Democratic House hopeful leans into outsider image despite consulting and dark money ties
Wisconsin Right Now: We’ve Recovered Leftist Political ‘Consultant’ Rebecca Cooke’s Deleted Website
Breitbart: House Hopeful Rebecca Cooke, Billing Herself as a Political Outsider, Served on Shape-Shifting Dark Money Group’s Steering Committee
MJS: Did Rebecca Cooke serve as a political consultant for Kirk Bangstad?
The Heartland Post: Congressional Candidate Cooke’s Deep Ties to DCCC Infuriate Grassroots Democrats
Wisconsin Right Now: Rebecca Cooke’s Business Closed & Her Nonprofit Spent More on Employees Than Grants in Recent Tax Form
New York Post: Dem congressional candidate accused of making ‘shady deal’ after she worked for business her nonprofit gave grants to
Wisconsin Right Now: Rebecca Cooke Was a Political Operative Before Running for Congress in Wisconsin
Pro-Van Orden
WEAU: Rep. Van Orden celebrates securing $2.2 million for improving water system
News 8 Now / News 8000: Van Orden secures $600,000 federal funding for Chippewa County morgue
WKBT: Transportation Secretary joins Congressman Van Orden in Sparta to tout road improvement projects
WXOW: Congressman Derrick Van Orden secures $22M in funding for community projects
WEAU: Van Orden and US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick visit Trane Technologies
WXOW: Rep. Derrick Van Orden visits Trane Technologies in La Crosse
WXOW: Rep. Van Orden hosts senior tax relief forum in West Salem
WEAU: Rep. Van Orden discusses veterans, VA challenges at roundtable