Based in western Wisconsin, Rebecca Cooke is a waitress, small business owner, and nonprofit leader who grew up on a dairy farm just outside of Eau Claire. After returning home from electing Democrats around the country, Cooke launched a small retail business in 2015 selling made-in-America goods, growing to four locations throughout the state at its height. Looking to help other entrepreneurs on the same path, in 2016 Cooke founded the Red Letter Grant, a nonprofit that supports and empowers female entrepreneurs by providing start-up capital throughout an 18-county region in northwest Wisconsin. The Red Letter Grant has aided the launch of over 50 small businesses creating over 200 regional jobs in eight years. Because of this work, Governor Tony Evers appointed Cooke to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Board where Cooke served as Board Secretary and Co-Chaired the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Committee. 

Most recently, Cooke ran for Congress in Wisconsin’s 3rd District. As the Democratic nominee in 2024, she overperformed Harris by 5 points and garnered 5,000 more votes than Baldwin by building a base of support in rural, working-class communities the Democratic Party has largely ignored and left behind. Cooke is more focused than ever on building a big tent and will spearhead a Third Way project bringing more working-class voices to decision-making tables.