Rebecca Cooke, a Democrat from Wisconsin, is poised to challenge Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden in the state's pivotal third district.
Despite her repeated assertions of being "somewhere in the middle" politically, Cooke's recent endorsement of Zohran Mamdani, a socialist frontrunner in New York City's mayoral race, raises questions about her centrist claims. Cooke has lamented that "everyone in Washington is either too far left or too far right," yet her support for Mamdani, who advocates for far-left policies, seems to contradict her self-proclaimed moderate stance.
During a La Crosse County Democrats' meeting, Cooke was asked who she would support for New York City's mayor if she were a resident. Her response, "Mamdani," was met with applause.
According to The Washington Free Beacon, Mamdani's platform includes proposals such as raising taxes to fund free public transportation, establishing city-owned grocery stores, and implementing a rent freeze. He has also been a vocal defender of the controversial slogan "globalize the intifada," which has drawn criticism for its perceived anti-Semitic undertones.
Cooke's political journey has been marked by two unsuccessful attempts to secure Wisconsin's Third Congressional District, a region that favored President Donald Trump by a seven-point margin in 2024. Her previous campaign was heavily focused on her portrayal as a moderate, with campaign ads emphasizing her middle-ground approach.
"It seems like everyone in Washington is either too far left or too far right," she stated in a 2024 campaign ad filmed on her family's dairy farm in Eau Claire. "I'm Rebecca Cooke, and like most folks in Wisconsin, I'm somewhere in the middle."
However, Cooke's past affiliations may further challenge her moderate image. In 2021 and 2022, she was part of the steering committee for Opportunity Wisconsin, a group linked to the George Soros-backed North Fund, a dark money organization based in Washington, D.C. This connection, as reported by The Washington Free Beacon, adds another layer of complexity to her political narrative.
Despite these revelations, Cooke has not responded to requests for comment. Her endorsement of Mamdani and her previous political affiliations may complicate her efforts to appeal to Wisconsin's conservative-leaning electorate. As she prepares for another run in the third district, Cooke's ability to reconcile her moderate claims with her actions will likely be scrutinized by voters seeking clarity in a politically divided landscape.
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