(The Center Square) – One week after saying he could not make a proposed debate at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 3rd District Congressman Derrick Van Orden said he would accept a debate with candidate Rebecca Cooke sponsored by the Adams County Chamber of Commerce.
Van Orden cited a story in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram where Cooke was quoted as saying that she would debate “any time, any place.” Van Orden wrote Monday morning the debate request was being ignored by Cooke.
“In the spirit of bipartisanship and transparency, I accepted the Adams County Chamber of Commerce’s invitation to debate Rebecca Cooke,” Van Orden said in a statement. “Cooke has repeatedly stated: ‘no community too small, or too red.’ Adams-Freindship (sic) is a small farming community in the heart of the district. I have made it a focus as your congressman to make sure rural America is not left behind any longer.”
Before the proposed La Crosse debate, Van Orden said he was not consulted and neither was his staff on the time, date, place, format and moderator group of the debate before receiving an invite only a week before the event.
“This is highly unprofessional and not how my campaign will operate,” Van Orden wrote.
Cooke has not publicly responded to the Adams County debate proposal. She has called Van Orden an “obstructionist” who is too far right, is a Donald Trump-endorsed candidate and supports Project 2025.
“.@derrickvanorden thinks he’s better than us,” Cooke wrote. “He berates workers and lines his pockets with special interest $$. I’m running for Congress to serve the teachers, small business owners, farmers and hospitality workers that power our communities.”
Van Orden noted that Cooke’s posts about Project 2025 are not true.
“I have publicly, repeatedly, and vigorously disavowed any affiliation with this,” Van Orden wrote. “So has President Trump.”
Van Orden noted that a debate is important for voters to understand the stance of each candidate.
“The voters don’t know my opponent and they deserve to so they can make and (sic) informed decision when they vote,” he said in a statement. “I have some questions about her work as a dark money Defund the Police operative, her hiding the truth about her background as a political fundraiser and consultant, and most shockingly, her involvement in very shady campaign finance dealings.”
