Bernie Sanders dives into a key House battleground Trump carried in 2024 with a new endorsement

[Uncle Joe]

Democrat Rebecca Cooke is running against GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden again after she lost by less than 3 points in western Wisconsin even as Trump won the district by 7 points last year.

(snip)

“Rebecca is a working class fighter who developed her populist roots in rural Western Wisconsin. 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,” Sanders said in a statement shared first with NBC News.

(snip)

Sanders followers and some Blue Dog types have clashed over the years over policy and the direction of the Democratic Party. Cooke acknowledged that “it could seem surprising, you know, to welcome an endorsement like that from Senator Sanders.”

“But I really think that it’s important that we let go of purity tests in politics and that we stay disciplined on creating election wins,” she said, adding that in her campaign she hopes to shed the labels of “moderate” or “progressive” and gain support from a broad base of voters.

“I am a Blue Dog and a new Dem, but I’m also very progressive where it counts,” Cooke said. “I don’t like the labels and the boxes that kind of have been created, because immediately, you know, you’re written off and ‘othered’ in your party because you’re this or because you’re that. And really, I’m just — I’m running because I’m for western Wisconsin, period.”

(snip)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/bernie-sanders-dives-key-house-battleground-trump-carried-2024-new-end-rcna213874

[AllyCat]

1. I'm not a fan of blue dogs, but DVO is horrid.

She’ll likely walk a line much like Kind had to do. I just hope she doesn’t turn to the dark side once in office.

I sent her money in ‘24. I’ll see if I have any left in ‘26.

[RandySF]

2. Isn't this her third time?