Rebecca Cooke, Wisconsin

Rebecca Cooke is a Democratic candidate for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District in 2026, her third consecutive run for the seat. Born and raised on a dairy farm outside Eau Claire, she graduated from the University of St. Thomas and worked as a political consultant before returning home to open a retail business, found the Red Letter Grant nonprofit supporting women entrepreneurs across western Wisconsin, and serve on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation board as the youngest appointee of Governor Evers. A self-described Blue Dog Democrat who also waitresses, she narrowly lost to Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden in 2024 by less than three points while outrunning the top of the Democratic ticket.