Elections

Congressional debates in 3rd District race still possible, with challenger Cooke interested in having them

Published

2 hours ago

October 10, 2024

Will Western Wisconsin voters get to see the 3rd District Congressman and his main opponent debate before Election Day?

Democratic candidate Rebecca Cooke is hoping at least one forum with Derrick Van Orden can be arranged. Cooke spoke with reporters in La Crosse on Thursday about the chance of debates, saying that UWL political scientist Anthony Chergosky “has reached out to our campaign with a couple of dates, so that’s something that we’re taking a look at.” Chergosky has been working on debate plans for local races leading up to November.

Rebecca Cooke listens to former Defense Department official John Rogers at a campaign rally in La Crosse on Thursday.

Speaking about a possible forum with Van Orden, Cooke noted that since the election is less than four weeks from now, “it’s about what we’re gonna have time to do. We’ve got a lot of community events throughout the district.”

Cooke says she shows up “to a lot of things. There’s no community too small, or too red,” referring to Republicans, “that we don’t get out to,” she said.

Cooke met at Veterans Freedom Park with vets from recent wars who are supporting her campaign.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.