Blue Dog PAC Endorses Rebecca Cooke in Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District
June 4, 2025
WASHINGTON — Today, the Blue Dog PAC proudly endorsed its first candidate of the 2026 cycle, throwing their support behind Rebecca Cooke who’s running in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District against extremist incumbent Derrick Van Orden.
A sixth-generation Wisconsinite, Rebecca was raised on her family’s Eau Claire dairy farm, milking cows and showing cattle from a young age. Rebecca’s lived what small business owners, dairy farmers, and rural Americans have gone through in the last few decades, as the chaos and failed policies decided in D.C. have left too many working people without a voice in Congress. She’s a working-class American who proudly waits tables at night to pay the bills, while running for Congress during the day.
“Rebecca Cooke is the homegrown fighter western Wisconsin needs in Congress right now, and the Blue Dogs are proud she’s the first candidate we’re endorsing for the 2026 election,” said Blue Dog PAC Chairman Rep. Jared Golden. “While Republicans in D.C. like Derrick Van Orden are working to gut health care and blow up the deficit to fund tax cuts for the rich, we know Rebecca Cooke will go to Congress with much different priorities: delivering local results for western Wisconsin, treating her constituents with respect and serving as a voice for the common sense thinking she hears from her community.”
“This moment calls for leaders who are ready to roll up their sleeves to get to work for the American people. I applaud the Blue Dogs’ commitment to getting things done and look forward to working with them to defeat Derrick Van Orden and send someone to Washington who is going to fight for working-class Wisconsinites,” said Cooke.
Rebecca won significantly more Trump voters in Wisconsin’s Third than the rest of the Democratic ticket did in 2024. Her deep roots in the community and ability to connect across party lines make her the kind of candidate who can rebuild trust and deliver results for working families in western Wisconsin. The Blue Dogs are confident she is the homegrown Democrat who will win this rematch in 2026.
About the Blue Dogs:
The Blue Dog PAC is the campaign arm of the Blue Dog Coalition, an official caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives made up of fiscally responsible Democrats who are leading the way to find commonsense solutions. They are pragmatic Democrats, appealing to the mainstream values of the American public. The Blue Dogs are dedicated to pursuing fiscally-responsible policies, ensuring a strong national defense for our country, and transcending party lines to get things done for the American people.