This is one of the most important congressional races in the country. The district is considered a toss-up, and its outcome could help determine whether Republicans retain control of the House during the final two years of Donald Trump’s presidency. Cooke came within three percentage points of defeating Republican Representative Derrick Van Orden in 2024 and has since built one of the strongest challenger campaigns in the country. Cooke has the background needed to connect with the district. She grew up on an Eau Claire dairy farm, worked her way through college, started a small business and founded a nonprofit that has helped women establish businesses across western Wisconsin. She has also served on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Board.
Her campaign emphasizes farmers, small businesses, workers, unions, Social Security, clean water, education, broadband, reproductive freedom and protection of democracy. We will not agree with every position she takes. Cooke remains to the left of CIVPAC on several issues. But center-left is preferable to far-left, particularly when it is accompanied by practical experience, institutional restraint and an understanding of the district she seeks to represent.
Her approach to health care provides a useful example of the difference between aspiration and governing.
Cooke has expressed support for moving toward broader public coverage, but she has also argued that a new Democratic House majority should begin with measures that can actually pass—such as extending Affordable Care Act tax credits. Her opponent, former Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge, has emphasized Medicare for All, substituting a declaration of principle for an achievable path toward improvement.
Cooke showed similar caution when asked whether she would support impeaching President Trump. Rather than promising an immediate vote before seeing the charges and evidence, she said the details would matter and that accountability could take several forms. Berge said she would vote to impeach.
CIVPAC would vote to impeach a president when the evidence established serious constitutional misconduct. But impeachment is not a campaign slogan, and a House member should not promise a verdict before knowing what case will be presented. Cooke’s answer reflected appropriate institutional restraint.
Cooke has already demonstrated that she can compete throughout western Wisconsin. She has been selected for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue program and has raised more than Van Orden during the current election cycle. Her fundraising, organization and previous performance make her the clearly stronger general-election candidate.
Electability is not the only consideration in an endorsement. But in a competitive district, it cannot be treated as an afterthought. Democratic primary voters who want their party to regain control of the House should consider not only which candidate most closely reflects their own views, but also which candidate is most capable of winning the general election.
Rebecca Cooke combines center-left policy commitments with rural roots, small-business experience, political realism and a demonstrated ability to appeal beyond the Democratic base.