Sanders Rallies for Cooke in Wisconsin Battleground

Sen. Bernie Sanders joined Democratic nominee Rebecca Cooke at a packed rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, nine days before her rematch with Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden in a closely watched House race. Sanders urged voters to support Cooke and emphasized income inequality, health care and the influence of wealth in politics, while Cooke focused on affordability, struggling rural hospitals and farms, and the need for government to deliver for local communities. Cooke said a victory could help Democrats win control of the House; Van Orden’s campaign countered that her alliance with Sanders showed she supported higher taxes and bigger government. The contest is considered highly competitive after Cooke narrowly lost to Van Orden in 2024.