Wisconsin Democratic congressional candidate Rebecca Cooke believes her party has lost touch with and "left behind" rural and working-class voters, urging a return to more pragmatic politics.
Cooke, who identifies as a Blue Dog Democrat, stated in a recent interview that these communities feel abandoned by the Democratic Party. She explained that Blue Dog Democrats are "fiscally conservative, socially liberal" and operate from a "place-based perspective," understanding the concerns of rural and working-class Americans.
"They're people that understand rural Democrats, working-class Democrats, that are showing up in rural communities and working-class spaces that historically our party has left behind," Cooke said on the "Politics War Room" podcast. She contrasted this with what she perceives as a disconnect within the national party, suggesting that many politicians lack relatable experiences.
Cooke, who has worked as a waitress since age 16 and runs a small business, highlighted her own lived experiences as key to connecting with voters. "I know what it's like to sign the front of a paycheck as well as the back of a paycheck, right? And I know what it's like to do hourly wage work," she stated. "There's a lot of members of Congress that have never done those sorts of things."
She pointed to issues like low milk prices forcing farmers to sell cows and small businesses struggling to compete with large corporations as examples of challenges that resonate with the voters she aims to represent. Cooke suggested that her background provides a more authentic connection to these "kitchen table issues" than many in Washington.
Cooke also expressed a desire for a more bipartisan approach in Congress. "I was standing in the middle of the road on my parents' farm talking about how folks in DC are either too far left or too far right, and we need more people in the middle that want to work across the aisle to get things done," she said. She added, "I'm somebody that wants to work in a really bipartisan way and not put, you know, party before people or politics before people."
Her campaign noted that Cooke intends to engage with all constituents, including Republicans and those who support former President Donald Trump. A spokesperson stated that she would "shake hands and introduce herself" even to individuals wearing a MAGA hat. Cooke also indicated she would "stand up to Democrats" on certain issues, citing her support for a secure border and full police funding, and her opposition to universal student loan forgiveness as being a "band-aid on a structural problem."