Sanders wades into battleground district with Wisconsin endorsement

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has endorsed Democrat Rebecca Cooke in her attempt for a rematch against Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) in a battleground Wisconsin district.

Sanders said in a statement, first reported by NBC News, that he’s supporting Cooke to represent Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District because she will “stand up for working families and take on the greed of powerful special interests.”

“Rebecca is a working-class fighter who developed her populist roots in rural Western Wisconsin,” the senator continued. “A daughter of farmers, a waitress and a small business owner — she’s lived through failed policies from Washington elites and is ready to deliver tangible outcomes that working people will actually feel.”

Cooke previously ran for the House seat twice, losing the Democratic nomination in 2022 before winning the primary last year. Democrats eyed Van Orden’s seat as a possible pickup opportunity, and she narrowly lost to him by less than 3 points.

She’s now seeking to face him again in what the party hopes will be a stronger year for its prospects in 2026.

Sanders said Cooke would be an ally to him in the House to enforce antitrust laws against monopolies, raise the minimum wage and expand Medicare.

Cooke said she’s “honored” to receive Sanders’s endorsement, calling him a “champion for the working class.”

“He’s spent his career fighting for the same values that drive our campaign here in Wisconsin’s Third District: putting people over politics, taking on corporate greed, and building a future that works for everyone—not just the wealthy and well-connected,” she said.

Cooke faces a couple primary opponents but has notched a wide range of Democratic endorsements from progressives and moderates. That includes support from the Blue Dog PAC, which backs moderate Democrats, and EMILY’s List.

Updated at 11:48 a.m. EDT

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