Rebecca Cooke, a Democrat running for Congress in Wisconsin’s Third District, has staked out a firmly progressive position on gun policy, backing sweeping reforms, including a ban on AR-15-style rifles, as she seeks to flip the seat blue against Republican Derrick Van Orden.
While that may align with the broader direction of the national Democratic Party, it marks a notable break in a district where even previous Democratic representatives have taken a more measured, moderate approach on gun rights.
“The time for thoughts and prayers are over. We need meaningful gun reform now. I know that Wisconsin has a rich heritage in hunting and gamesmanship, but we’re not talking about AR-15s at deer camp," Cooke said during the 2022 WI-03 Democratic Primary Debate, when asked whether she supports more gun control legislation. "As somebody who is a candidate of distinction for Moms Demand Action, I support universal background checks. I support the enforcement of red flag laws that are put up when someone is having a mental health crisis or is a domestic abuser so they’re not a harm to themselves or others. I support the elimination of the Charleston Loophole.”
Shot skeet in Menomonie on Sunday. In Wisconsin, we have a deep history of hunting and sportsmanship. The best way to protect our 2nd amendment rights is to ensure that guns are used safely and stored securely. pic.twitter.com/M8z2iqJSCM
— Rebecca Cooke (@RebeccaforWI) October 24, 2024
We NEED @derrickvanorden in Congress to stop her—Rebecca Cooke, the socialist fraud backed by Bernie Sanders & Soros dark money, pushing Medicare expansion, gun grabs, and open borders. She's a 2-time loser out to flip WI-03 blue. Keep it RED! @TPAction…
— Dixon Wolfe (@dixonswolfe) February 26, 2026
That position, however, is not popular among constituents.
The previous congressman from the district, former Rep. Ron Kind, routinely broke with Democrats on sweeping gun control efforts, voting against multiple bills that would have banned commonly owned firearms, criminalized standard-capacity magazines, and expanded the FBI’s ability to deny Americans their Second Amendment rights.
“Radical Rebecca Cooke’s support for banning guns shows just how much of an extreme Democrat she really is," RNC Spokesman Hunter Lovell said. "It’s clear she takes her cues directly from her pen pal, Mamdani. Radical Rebecca's extreme views are far outside the mainstream in western Wisconsin.”
In other words, Cooke isn't running to represent voters, she's running to represent the Democratic Party.
This comes as Cooke has also positioned herself as an anti-ICE candidate, describing the agency and its actions as “disgusting and wrong.” Despite that stance, she has refused to say directly whether she supports abolishing ICE or backing the deportation of illegal immigrants.
Wisconsin Democrat Rebecca Cooke says she thinks ICE law enforcement removing violent criminal illegals is "disgusting and wrong"
— NRCC (@NRCC) September 29, 2025
What's disgusting is @RebeccaforWI putting criminal illegals before law-abiding Americans! pic.twitter.com/c8xkf36Ica
🚨YIKES: Democrat Rebecca Cooke FLEES THE SCENE when confronted about calling ICE 'Disgusting!'
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 5, 2026
"Do you support the deportation of illegal immigrants that r*pe and murder U.S. citizens?"
"Why did you call ICE disgusting?"
"Do you support the abolishment of ICE?"
These… pic.twitter.com/NBPokZGoTc
Editor’s Note: The radical left will stop at nothing to enact their radical gun control agenda and strip us of our Second Amendment rights.
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