From Anna Gates
Eau Claire
To the Editor:
The 2026 election is primed for Rebecca Cooke. The political climate has swung in favor of Democrats; she can attract moderate voters; and her opponent in the primary has no chance to win in November.
In 2024, dissatisfaction with the economy and the allure of Donald Trump drew voters to the Republican Party. In 2026, however, there is a growing disapproval of the current administration and declining support among white working-class voters, rural residents, and independents. These factors favor Cooke.
The demographics of Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District (WI-03) also favor Cooke. As liberals and conservatives frequently cancel each other out, politically moderate voters play the deciding role. WI-03 is estimated to be 37% Republican, 31% Democrat, and 32% independent, so Democrats need votes from independent and moderate voters to win. Moderates tend to be skeptical of progressive policies, especially in rural areas, which plays perfectly into Cooke’s political ideology.
Rebecca Cooke has always identified as a middle-of-the-road Democrat, utilizing moderate and working-class messaging and emphasizing fiscal restraint and government efficiency. Emily Berge, however, often promotes more extreme measures. This difference is evident in their views on voting to impeach President Trump and on campaign financing.
While Berge would vote to impeach, Cooke wisely says that she needs more information. Without a vote to convict from the Senate, impeachment is toothless. A vote to convict requires a supermajority of 67% of the Senate, which just won’t happen. Even if Democrats take control of the Senate (the information Cooke needs), a supermajority is still unlikely, and any attempt to impeach Trump would be a waste of time.
Regarding campaign financing, Berge refuses the normal practice of accepting funds from organizations and PACs and only accepts money from individual donors. This strategy cannot win a major election, especially against a well-funded opponent like Derek Van Orden.
Cooke has amassed considerable campaign funds, which will be essential to win in November. Unlike Berge has implied, these funds are not from corporate PACs but are from individual donors and non-corporate organizations such as labor unions and voting rights organizations.
These are only two of the policy differences that give Cooke a much better chance of beating Derrick Van Orden.
Clearly, this is Cooke’s time. The 2026 election climate, her appeal to moderate voters, and Berge’s progressive platform all favor Cooke. Let’s vote for Cooke in August and win in November!
