Rebecca Cooke, a former small business owner and member of Wisconsin's economic development board, has initiated her campaign for Congress, aiming to challenge freshman Republican Representative Derrick Van Orden in the 2024 election. Cooke previously competed for the seat in 2022 but lost in the Democratic primary to Brad Pfaff, whom Van Orden subsequently defeated in the general election.

Cooke, 35, emphasizes the distinct challenges faced by rural communities and criticizes Van Orden's alignment with Washington politics, positioning herself as a representative who will prioritize the needs of her district. Hailing from a dairy farm background, she aims to connect with voters in the largely rural 3rd Congressional District.

In the 2022 primary, Cooke trailed Pfaff by approximately 8 percentage points. Pfaff, along with other potential Democratic candidates, may also contend for the seat again in 2024. The seat was previously held by Democrat Ron Kind for over two decades before his retirement.

Democrat Rebecca Cooke has announced her bid to unseat freshman Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Cooke, from Eau Claire, is the first Wisconsin Democrat to declare a 2024 congressional bid. She has been actively engaging with the district since last year, preparing for another campaign. If successful, she would be the first woman to represent the 3rd Congressional District, which spans Wisconsin's borders with Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, encompassing cities like Eau Claire, La Crosse, and Stevens Point.

While the district has leaned Republican in recent elections, Democrats are optimistic about the possibility of a court-ordered redrawing of district lines following the Wisconsin Supreme Court's shift to a liberal majority. A legal challenge to the current Republican-drawn congressional and legislative district maps is anticipated as early as August.

Cooke's background includes owning and operating Red’s Mercantile boutique for seven years, which she closed following her 2022 primary loss. She also established the Red Letter Grant in 2016, a non-profit organization supporting women entrepreneurs. Furthermore, she served on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Board, appointed by Democratic Governor Tony Evers.