Latest news with #3rdDistrict
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sanders wades into battleground district with Wisconsin endorsement
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has endorsed Democrat Rebecca Cooke in her attempt for a rematch against Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) in a battleground Wisconsin district. Sanders said in a statement, first reported by NBC News, that he's supporting Cooke to represent Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District because she will 'stand up for working families and take on the greed of powerful special interests.' 'Rebecca is a working-class fighter who developed her populist roots in rural Western Wisconsin,' the senator continued. 'A daughter of farmers, a waitress and a small business owner — she's lived through failed policies from Washington elites and is ready to deliver tangible outcomes that working people will actually feel.' Cooke previously ran for the House seat twice, losing the Democratic nomination in 2022 before winning the primary last year. Democrats eyed Van Orden's seat as a possible pickup opportunity, and she narrowly lost to him by less than 3 points. She's now seeking to face him again in what the party hopes will be a stronger year for its prospects in 2026. Sanders said Cooke would be an ally to him in the House to enforce antitrust laws against monopolies, raise the minimum wage and expand Medicare. Cooke said she's 'honored' to receive Sanders's endorsement, calling him a 'champion for the working class.' 'He's spent his career fighting for the same values that drive our campaign here in Wisconsin's Third District: putting people over politics, taking on corporate greed, and building a future that works for everyone—not just the wealthy and well-connected,' she said. Cooke faces a couple primary opponents but has notched a wide range of Democratic endorsements from progressives and moderates. That includes support from the Blue Dog PAC, which backs moderate Democrats, and EMILY's List. Updated at 11:48 a.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bernie Sanders dives into a key House battleground Trump carried in 2024 with a new endorsement
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Thursday announced his endorsement of Democrat Rebecca Cooke for Congress in Wisconsin's 3rd District — making a foray into one of a handful of districts that could decide the next House majority, which President Donald Trump carried by 7 points less than a year ago. 'Rebecca is a working class fighter who developed her populist roots in rural Western Wisconsin. A daughter of farmers, a waitress and a small business owner — she's lived through failed policies from Washington elites and is ready to deliver tangible outcomes that working people will actually feel,' Sanders said in a statement shared first with NBC News. Sanders' endorsement brings renewed national attention to a race that Cooke lost by less than 3 percentage points last year as GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden earned a second term. And it also highlights a notable cross-section of support for Cooke — who has also been endorsed by the Blue Dog Democrats' PAC, a longtime supporter of party moderates — as Democrats in Washington and around the country review the party's policy platforms, personalities and coalitions after they suffered defeat to Trump in the 2024 election. Cooke said in an interview that Sanders' endorsement meant a lot to her because 'Bernie really is no bulls---.' 'He's been able to pass legislation in the fray of Washington while remaining really true to his core values that center around the working class, and his voice has never really wavered,' she said. Cooke said she voted for Sanders in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary and has valued his authenticity ever since. 'Why wouldn't I seek support from someone like that in an era, kind of, where nothing feels authentic, when Bernie really is?' she added. Last year, Cooke campaigned on a message focused largely on the economy and ran ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin in her district. She also ran with the support of the New Democrat Coalition and Blue Dog Democrats, two groups of moderate congressional Democrats who tout their support for bipartisanship and working across the aisle. The Blue Dog PAC endorsed her again this month. Sanders followers and some Blue Dog types have clashed over the years over policy and the direction of the Democratic Party. Cooke acknowledged that 'it could seem surprising, you know, to welcome an endorsement like that from Senator Sanders.' 'But I really think that it's important that we let go of purity tests in politics and that we stay disciplined on creating election wins,' she said, adding that in her campaign she hopes to shed the labels of 'moderate' or 'progressive' and gain support from a broad base of voters. 'I am a Blue Dog and a new Dem, but I'm also very progressive where it counts,' Cooke said. 'I don't like the labels and the boxes that kind of have been created, because immediately, you know, you're written off and 'othered' in your party because you're this or because you're that. And really, I'm just — I'm running because I'm for western Wisconsin, period.' Democrats need a net gain of at least three districts to retake a majority in the House in 2026. And Wisconsin's 3rd District is expected to be highly competitive again in 2026. It's one of just nine Republican-held House seats rated as toss-ups by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. As Cooke welcomes Sanders' support in a district Trump has carried three times, after Barack Obama and other Democratic presidential nominees carried it in previous elections, the Democratic Party is grappling with how to move forward from the 2024 election. Some Democrats — like Sens. Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts — have said Democrats alienated some voters in recent years by insisting that candidates agree with certain socially progressive norms and use 'woke' language that not all voters understand. 'We have to, you know, quit demonizing people along the political spectrum. Otherwise we're, we're never going to get there. We're never going to achieve the things that we want to get done," Cooke said. Sanders, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020, kicked off a nationwide 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour this year, rallying with voters across the country and urging Democrats to fight Trump and his allies and to listen to voters' concerns about the economy. Sanders made several stops in Wisconsin, including in Eau Claire County, which is in the 3rd District. Sanders' endorsement statement praised Cooke as a potential "partner in Congress" who shares his goal of "building opportunities for the working class." "She will be an ally to me in the House as she works to enforce antitrust laws against corporate monopolies that have bankrupted family farms like hers, raise the federal minimum wage to a living wage and expand Medicare to cover vision, dental and hearing," Sanders said in the statement. He has already thrown his support behind several other candidates in the 2026 midterm elections. They include Maine's former state Senate president Troy Jackson, who is running for governor; Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed; and Michigan state Rep. Donavan McKinney, who is challenging Rep. Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary in a Detroit-area district. On Monday, Sanders also backed New York state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani in next week's New York mayoral primary. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Let's Talk Tuesday returns
ELKHART — The City of Elkhart has announced the 2025 community meeting dates for Let's Talk Tuesday sessions. The program, now in its fourth year, aims to foster connections and conversations among residents, providing a platform for open dialogue and engagement for community building, organizers said. Residents are encouraged to share their ideas and concerns with Mayor Rod Roberson, their City Council representatives and department heads. Let's Talk Tuesday will take place on select Tuesday evenings at various locations throughout Elkhart in each council district, offering residents the opportunity to come together, share ideas and discuss issues that matter most to residents. City department representatives will be on hand to provide information and answer questions related to their expertise. 'Let's Talk Tuesday is one of my favorite events to connect with residents,' Mayor Rod Roberson said. 'My administration looks forward to our fourth season of this important series of events.' All meetings will begin at 6:30 pm. Dates are: April 15: 5th District with Councilman Brent Curry, Pierre Moran Pavillon, 119 W. Wolf St. May 27: 3rd District with Councilman David Henke, Pinewood Elementary School, 3420 E. Bristol St. June 24: 1st District with Councilman Aaron Mishler, High Dive Pavillon, 500 E. Beardsley Ave. July 22: 6th District with Councilwoman LaTonya King, McNaughton Pavillon, 701 Arcade Ave. Aug. 26: 4th District with Councilman Dwight Fish, Studebaker Pavillon, 1020 McDonald St. Sept. 23: 2nd District with Councilman Chad Crabtree, Willowdale Pavillon, 1320 Olive St. In addition, at-Large council members Arvis Dawson, Alex Holtz and Tonda Hines will be in attendance. The public is invited to all events and no reservations are required. More information about Let's Talk Tuesday and upcoming events are available on the City of Elkhart app, MyElkhart311; on the city website, or on social media, @CityofElkhart.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Yahoo
Former Kansas City councilwoman injured in afternoon robbery in downtown KC
Former Kansas City Councilwoman Joanne Collins was the victim of a downtown robbery on Monday, police confirmed. Collins, 89, was the first Black woman elected to Kansas City's City Council. She served as the 3rd District city council member. Police were called to the area of West 12th Street and Central Street, near the Kansas City Convention Center, around 4:30 p.m. Monday for a robbery, and officers found the victim, Collins, had been injured in the incident, said Sgt. Phil DiMartino, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department. Collins was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, he said. 'Detectives are pursuing all leads and making headway at identifying a subject,' he said. 'The investigation is ongoing.' Collins became the first Black woman to be elected to City Council in 1974. She was re-elected to the seat four times before she stepped down in 1991. Collins also served in stints as the city's mayor pro tem and acting mayor.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
She was just ousted as JoCo Commissioner. Now, Republican will run for Kansas governor
Former Johnson County Commissioner Charlotte O'Hara has filed to run for governor in 2026. O'Hara, an Olathe Republican who served the 3rd District, lost by seven percentage points to Democrat Julie Brewer in November, making her the only incumbent in a contested County Commission race not to win re-election. O'Hara previously served one term in the Kansas House of Representatives from 2011-2013 and ran unsuccessfully for Overland Park mayor and Johnson County Commission Chair. She joins Secretary of State Scott Schwab in a Republican primary field where voters will select their challenger after two gubernatorial losses at the hands of term-limited Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Democratic candidates have yet to step forward 17 months ahead of the primary. O'Hara told The Star she's undeterred by her recent loss and focused on spreading her message about discontinuing 'corporate welfare' tax incentives and overhauling public school curriculum. 'Because I've been involved in politics for so long, my name recognition, especially in Johnson County, is well-known,' said O'Hara, who owns a casino chip manufacturing business and recently returned from a nine-day listening tour with stops along the way from Frankfort to Garden City. As a member of the County Commission from 2021 until January, she was fiercely opposed to COVID-19 masking and vaccine mandates. She's still critical of Schwab's directive to Johnson County to destroy 2020 mail ballots last spring in accordance with state law over the objection of former Sheriff Calvin Hayden. On issues of election security, tax incentives and public education, O'Hara said she sees herself as more conservative than Schwab and other gubernatorial hopefuls who have yet to announce their bids. 'The status quo in the Republican Party, they have long been controlled by the Koch brothers, Koch Industries, and the Chamber,' O'Hara said. A former general contractor who dabbled in development, O'Hara said it was her own experience receiving a tax incentive in 2004 that turned her against industrial revenue bonds, tax increment financing and state STAR bond subsidies. 'This is handing out candy to the well-connected,' O'Hara said. She said as governor, she would take it upon herself to lead the charge against common incentive programs, which have been enshrined in state statute and would require legislative action to be undone. 'I would be in front of the Legislature demanding that they take a look at these statutes and at least start rolling them back,' O'Hara said. She said high property taxes are 'crushing small businesses' and admonished state and local officials for their 'cruel indifference' toward soaring tax bills for homeowners. Tax policy has also featured in O'Hara's political newsletter poetry, including a nine-stanza composition that begins: 'Oh, how do we, the BOCC Raise the tax on YOUR property? With cruel indifference, Maniacal glee!!' O'Hara supports President Trump's call to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and wants to minimize the Kansas state school board's role in determining classroom curriculum. 'In my opinion, the closer to the local level, the better,' she told The Star. 'We've got to get away from DEI. We've got to get away from this woke agenda and we've got to get back to basics — phonics, just regular core math — stop all this ridiculous confusing the kids with drawing boxes and all that stuff,' O'Hara said. 'Six plus six equals twelve, period.' She declined to offer specific examples of diversity initiatives in Kansas schools she wants to see eliminated but issued a blanket appraisal of diversity, equity and inclusion as 'discriminatory.' However, O'Hara said she's wary of school vouchers because she believes they would come with strings attached to what can and can't be taught in private schools and homeschools. Newly elected Kansas Republican Party Chair Danedri Herbert did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Neither did Johnson County Republican Party Chair Sue Huff. Johnson County Commission Chair Mike Kelly, who defeated O'Hara in 2022, declined to comment on her entrance into the race. The Star's Taylor O'Connor contributed reporting
