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The top Democratic candidate in Wisconsin’s most competitive congressional district is being accused of self-interested double-dealing after financial disclosures revealed she worked at one of the small businesses that her nonprofit gave a grant to.
Wisconsin primary voters go to the polls on Tuesday.
Rebecca Cooke, a former political fundraiser and strategist, who has out-raised her primary opponents, is considered by many political observers as the strongest candidate to face Trump-endorsed Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden in November.
Cooke founded and runs the nonprofit Red Letter Grant to “support and empower female entrepreneurs, which awards $2,000 startup grants to women-owned businesses.
She also works at The Good Wives restaurant — which received a $2,000 grant from Cooke’s nonprofit in 2022, according to public records.
Cooke’s 2023 Financial Disclosure Report shows that she earned $18,000 in income from Red Letter Grant in 2022, and $2,256 working as a part-time waitress at The Good Wives, as well.
She also reported income from both the nonprofit and the restaurant in 2023.
“Rebecca Cooke is a sleazy political activist only looking out for herself,” National Republican Campaign Committee spokesman Mike Marinella told The Post.
“Cooke is desperately trying to hide the fact that she has spent her career electing radical leftists, and now she’s making shady deals for her own personal gain.
“She must answer for these allegations and be honest with Wisconsin voters.”
Cooke’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Cooke also ran in the Democratic primary for the Third Congressional District in 2022, garnering 31% of the vote but ultimately losing the primary to state Sen. Brad Pfaff.
Derrick Van Orden, an ex-Navy SEAL and outspoken member of Congress, beat Pfaff in the general election by 2.7 points — the narrowest margin of any House race in the state.
The unusually nasty Democratic primary this year belies the fact that Cooke and opponents State Rep. Katrina Shankland and Eric Wilson, who has worked in real estate and health care, seem to agree on most issues, including “protecting democracy,” healthcare, abortion rights and opposition to Trump’s agenda.
In a head-to-head matchup in June, Five Thirty Eight Polls had Van Orden with a 4-point lead on Cooke.
The House Democrats’ Super PAC has reserved $4 million in TV ads to support the winning primary candidate.
Despite Cooke’s momentum, state Democratic leaders have lined up behind Shankland and the Tuesday primary is expected to be an indicator of Democratic turnout and influence in the district ahead of November.
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