Wisconsin Democratic candidate blocks MAGA supporter from public tour event

After winning the Democratic primary, Rebecca Cooke announced a two-day “Coming Together Tour” that she described as free and open to the public. At a stop in Stevens Point, a resident wearing a MAGA hat and an American flag was stopped at the door despite Cooke’s earlier statements about shaking hands with MAGA hat wearers. This denial adds to previous controversies, such as a 2024 photo of two Van Orden supporters that Cooke labeled “Republicans for Cooke,” which the individuals later rejected.

Cooke has previously called her hometown of Eau Claire “racist” and frequently uses “MAGA” as a political attack. Her background includes years as a Democratic fundraiser, founder of Cooke Strategy, and consulting work for Kirk Bangstad, who faced backlash for praising an assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Republican National Committee spokesman Hunter Lovell dismissed her outreach as a “far-left” charade, while she continues to campaign against Rep. Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin’s 3rd District.