Wednesday, July 9, 2025
spot_imgspot_img
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Milwaukee Press Club 'Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism' 2020 & 2021 Award Winners

Rebecca Cooke Was a Political Operative Before Running for Congress in Wisconsin

spot_img

Rebecca Cooke, the liberal candidate for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional seat held by former Navy SEAL chief Derrick Van Orden, worked as a paid political operative and fundraiser for Democrats throughout the country but has tried to repackage herself as a waitress and outsider with a broken-door car.

“Today is about you flat out lying to everyone in #WI03 about your background,” Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL chief with 5 combat deployments, wrote on X on August 16, referring to Cooke as “Crook.”

“You claim to be a ‘political outsider’ but have spent an entire 1/3 of your life working in politics and STILL run a political consultant firm,” he wrote. “The $200,000 is not a ‘side hustle.'” (He’s referring to Cooke Strategy LLC.)

Cooke told the liberal Wisconsin Examiner that she was an “outsider,” saying, “You know, I don’t come from a career background in politics.” The story mentions that she works as a waitress for three days a week but leaves out her extensive work as a political operative, which is about as insider as they come.

“Rebecca Cooke is a sleazy political activist only looking out for herself,” National Republican Campaign Committee spokesman Mike Marinella told The New York Post.

Cooke also runs a small non-profit, but, The New York Post reported, Cooke is “being accused of self-interested double-dealing after financial disclosures revealed she worked at one of the small businesses that her nonprofit gave a grant to” – the restaurant where she sometimes waitresses.

In 2022, she lost in a Democrat primary for the same district to state Sen. Brad Pfaff, getting only 31% of the vote. Van Orden then defeated Pfaff.

It’s not the first time that Cooke’s central biographical narrative was questioned. Her Democrat opponent Katrina Shankland, whom she defeated in the Democratic primary on August 13, also accused Cooke of lying about her background “as a political fundraiser.”

Shankland’s website contains a list of what she calls “outright lies” by Cooke.

On July 26, Shankland issued a press release that says Rebecca Cooke was “caught lying about her background as a political fundraiser, backs out of debate, and begs for dark money help against Shankland.”

“Cooke has fashioned herself as ‘just a waitress,’ a ‘small business owner,’ and a ‘nonprofit leader,’ but turns out that she has primarily spent her career as a political fundraiser—raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Shankland wrote.

Rebecca cooke
Rebecca cooke and derrick van orden.

“Though Cooke is working hard to spin a public persona rooted in traditional Wisconsin values, the Journal Sentinel identifies a decade of her work as a political operative who raised tons of campaign cash for clients across the country,” Shankland noted.

She was referring to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel expose on Cooke’s background, noting that Cooke told a radio show that she hates fundraising – when she worked as a political fundraiser.

The Journal Sentinel found:

  • “Beginning in late 2012, Cooke, 36, served as finance director for four congressional races in Minnesota, Michigan, Colorado, and California, raising $3.7 million in one of those contests.”
  • “In 2015, she registered Cooke Strategy LLC, a Democratic political and fundraising consulting firm. FEC records show the firm advised eight state and federal campaigns between 2015 and 2021.”
  • “Overall, she and her firm were paid more than $190,000 for their work by a dozen committees and campaigns.”
  • “Along with all that, Cooke served on the steering committee for Opportunity Wisconsin, a liberal nonprofit active in congressional races.”
  • “Between 2012 and 2014, FEC records show that Cooke did fundraising work for Democratic candidates Jim Graves of Minnesota, Joe Miklosi of Colorado and Syad Taj of Michigan, all of whom lost or withdrew from their races, and Rep. Raul Ruiz of California. Cooke said on her defunct campaign website that she helped raise $3.7 million for Ruiz.”
  • “After forming Cooke Strategy, she worked for five federal candidates, two state candidates and a leadership political action committee. Among those for whom she did were former state Rep. Dana Wachs, a Democrat who was defeated in his gubernatorial bid in 2018; Appeals Court Judge Joanne Kloppenburg, who ran unsuccessfully for the Supreme Court in 2016; and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, who lost his congressional bid in 2016.”

“Rebecca Cooke spent her career as a paid political activist electing radical leftists,” said Marinella, the spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, to the Journal Sentinel.

Cooke also ran a small retail shop that closed after seven years in the Eau Claire area and started the small non-profit.

Q&A with Tommy Clark, Author of The 2020 Portland Riots: A Fight Against Domestic Terrorism

By Chris Mann Read part 1: Chris Mann's review of The 2020 Portland Riots: A Fight Against Domestic Terrorism by Tommy Clark. Tommy Clark and...

Protecting Portland: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished [REVIEW]

By Chris Mann An In-Depth Review of The 2020 Portland Riots: A Fight Against Domestic Terrorism by Tommy Clark. This summary is the second in...
Governor’s Veto Powers Wisconsin Republicans Parental Bill of Rights Outlaw Child Sex Dolls Embrace Them Both Unemployment Reforms Wisconsin’s Professional Licensing Bail Reform Amendment wisconsin covid-19

Conservative Wins in the Wisconsin State Budget Bill That Passed July 3

Wisconsin has a divided government, and, with a Democrat in the governor's mansion, conservatives were not going to get everything they wanted. However, there...

Shorewood Officer Shot; Glendale Pursues Suspect, Who Appears Dead

A Shorewood, Wisconsin, police officer was shot but saved by his bulletproof vest in the early morning hours of July 3. Several hours later, Glendale...
kendall corder

MPD Confirms Sad News That Officer Kendall Corder Has Died; Procession Unfolding

The Milwaukee Police Department has officially confirmed the tragic news that Officer Kendall Corder has died in the line of duty. Earlier in the day,...

Oconomowoc Rotary Refuses to Document ‘Threats’ & There’s No Police Reports

Getting criticized is hard, but reasonable criticism - even heated criticism - is not a threat. And it's what representative democracy is all about,...
kendall corder, tremaine jones

Tremaine Jones: Milwaukee DA Declined to Prosecute Him 4 Times Leading Up to Officer Shooting

KEY FINDINGS: Accused cop shooter Tremaine Jones was given a deferred prosecution agreement for a 2021 Milwaukee case involving a stolen Kia and...
Killed by Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Kill Box In Milwaukee Police

2 Milwaukee Police Officers Shot Near 25th & Garfield

Two Milwaukee police officers were shot on the evening of June 26, police confirmed. One officer remains in critical condition and the second does...
josh schoemann Washington County’s Early Vote

2026 GOP Candidate Josh Schoemann Challenges Evers’ Budget Approach

(The Center Square) – Josh Schoemann, the only Republican currently in the race for governor next year, is criticizing Gov. Tony Evers’ approach to the next state budget by comparing it to his plans in Washington County.

“In Washington County our budget cycle starts right now, and it’s not due until November. We will propose our budget goals to the County Board in the next couple of months. We will share ‘This is what we’re thinking.’ It gives them months of time to think those through, give us feedback, and [have] that kind of dialogue,” Schoemann explained in an interview on News Talk 1130 WISN.

Schoemann said that is far better than the approach Evers is taking again this year.

“That’s not how government is supposed to work,” Schoemann said. “It’s not the vision of the governor. It’s not the vision of any one person.”

Evers and the Republican legislative leaders who will write the budget have been involved in on-again, off-again budget talks this month. On Thursday, the governor’s office said those talks were off once again because of gridlock in the Senate.

“Ultimately, the Senate needs to decide whether they were elected to govern and get things done or not,” Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in a post on X.

Schoemann’s criticism of Evers is nothing new. He has long been a critic of the governor and has turned that criticism up since launching his campaign for governor.

But the recent criticism was also aimed at other Republicans who may jump into the 20206 governor’s race later this year.

“Nobody else in this race on the Republican side, being rumored to this point, has the executive leadership of skills and history to be able to show ‘This is how I’ve done it before, and here’s how we’ll do it Madison,’” Schoemann said. “The results in Washington County speak for themselves.”

Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany is also rumored to be looking to get into the Republican race. Before he went to Congress, Tiffany was a Republican lawmaker in Madison.

Businessman and veteran Bill Berrien is also on the short list of likely GOP candidates for 2026.

richard van buren

Richard Van Buren Arrested in Dodge County Dog’s Death, Sheriff Says

Richard Van Buren, the chairman of the Chester Town Board in Wisconsin, was arrested in the death of a golden retriever dog in rural...

Rep. Donovan, Greenfield Officials Outraged at Release of Accused Random Stabber

State Rep. Bob Donovan and top Greenfield officials are expressing outrage and concern over the release of a man who is accused of randomly...

Dodge County Dog’s Death Under Investigation by Wisconsin Sheriff

Update: Richard Van Buren, the chairman of the Town of Chester Board, has now been arrested. See the story here. The Dodge County Sheriff's Office...
Anthony LoCoco

Anthony LoCoco Running for WI Court of Appeals to Defend the Constitution

Note: Anthony LoCoco, of Waukesha, has worked for the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty and the Institute for Reforming Government. He is...

Milwaukee Alderman Voices Frustration at ‘Crumbling’ Roads, Massive Cost Estimate

The Common Council’s Finance and Personnel Committee heard from City Engineer Kevin Muhs today "about a newly released report from the Department of Public...

Oconomowoc Rotary Club Apologizes, Reverses Course After July 4 Parade Mess

The Oconomowoc Rotary Club has apologized for the mess surrounding its July 4 parade and will now allow political parties and elected representatives to...
Killed by Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Kill Box In Milwaukee Police

Milwaukee Police Officer Shot by Armed Suspect in Foot Chase, Department Says

Two ghost guns were recovered. A Milwaukee police officer was shot by an armed suspect who refused to drop his gun during a foot chase...

Milwaukee Police Association Raises Alarm on Low District 7 Staffing

The Milwaukee Police Association is raising the alarm about severely low staffing levels in District 7, one of the city's busiest police districts. The MPA,...
uw-madison Administrators at UW Schools

UW Employs 495 Foreign Nationals at Almost $43 Million a Year, But Won’t Release Their Names

With salaries ranging as high as $320,000 a year, are the foreign nationals getting taxpayer-funded jobs at UW instead of qualified U.S. citizens? The...
Governor’s Veto Powers Wisconsin Republicans Parental Bill of Rights Outlaw Child Sex Dolls Embrace Them Both Unemployment Reforms Wisconsin’s Professional Licensing Bail Reform Amendment wisconsin covid-19

Wisconsin Budget Negotiations Reach Impasse Between Evers, Legislature

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin budget negotiations have reached an impasse with both sides pointing fingers at the other in Wednesday afternoon statements.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said Republican Legislative leaders backed out of negotiations after he agreed to “an income tax cut targeting Wisconsin’s middle-class and working families and eliminating income taxes for certain retirees.” He said Republican leaders would not agree to “meaningful increased investments in child care, K-12 schools, and the University of Wisconsin System.”

Republican Assembly leaders said the two sides were "far apart. Senate leaders say Evers’ desires “extend beyond what taxpayers can afford.”

“The Joint Committee on Finance will continue using our long-established practices of crafting a state budget that contains meaningful tax relief and responsible spending levels with the goal of finishing on time,” said a statement from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Assembly Finance Co-Chairman Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam.

Evers said that there were meetings between the sides every day this week before the impasse.

“I told Republicans I’d support their half of the deal and their top tax priorities – even though they’re very similar to bills I previously vetoed – because I believe that’s how compromise is supposed to work, and I was ready to make that concession in order to get important things done for Wisconsin’s kids,” Evers said.

Senate Republican leadership said that good faith negotiations have occurred since April on a budget compromise.

“Both sides of these negotiations worked to find compromise and do what is best for the state of Wisconsin,” said a statement from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Senate Joint Finance Co-Chairman Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green.

In early May, the Joint Committee on Finance took 612 items out of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal, including Medicaid expansion in the state, department creations and tax exemptions.

Born previously estimated that Evers’ budget proposal would lead to $3 billion in tax increases over the two-year span.

Wisconsin Policy Forum estimated that the proposal would spend down more than $4 billion of the state’s expected $4.3 billion surplus if it is enacted.

hannah dugan

Milwaukee Police Refuse to Release NEW Hannah Dugan Body Cam Video, Citing Crime ‘Prevention,’ in Part

The Milwaukee Police Department has refused to release a new Hannah Dugan police body cam video, citing, in part, crime "prevention" and "detection" and...