Congressional candidate Rebecca Cooke. (Submitted photo)

Eau Claire native Rebecca Cooke, founder of a grant program for women-owned businesses and former proprietor of a downtown Eau Claire retail business, has announced that she will again seek Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District seat in 2024.

Cooke is the first Democrat to declare candidacy for the seat, which is currently held by Republican Derrick Van Orden of Prairie du Chien. Van Orden was elected last fall to a two-year term to fill the seat previous held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, who didn’t seek re-election after 26 years in Congress.

“Families are struggling to get by and deserve a champion who knows what it’s like to make ends meet and actually shows up for neighbors in need,” Cooke said in July 10 campaign announcement. “I’m running for Congress to better serve communities across Wisconsin, provide more opportunities for success, and be a relentless fighter for our way of life.”

Cooke, who grew up on a rural Eau Claire dairy farm and graduated from North High School, previously operated Red’s Mercantile, and in 2016 created the Red Letter Grant program. She previously sought the 3rd District seat in 2022, coming in second in a four-way Democratic primary. The Democratic victor, state Sen. Brad Pfaff, lost to Van Orden in the general election.

The 3rd District runs the length of western Wisconsin from River Falls to the Illinois state line, and encompasses Eau Claire, Menomonie, and Chippewa Falls. Cooke’s campaign website is CookeForWisconsin.com.