Democrat Congressional candidate Rebecca Cooke has not yet commented on her consulting work for Kirk Bangstad after Bangstad expressed regret that President Trump wasn’t killed at the White House Correspondents Dinner Saturday night.
Rebecca Cooke, the Democratic candidate challenging Rep. Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, has deep professional ties to Kirk Bangstad, the Minocqua Brewing Company owner who publicly expressed dismay that former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt Saturday night.
“Well, we almost got #freebeerday,” Bangstad said. “Either a brother or sister in the Resistance needs to work on their marksmanship or he faked another assassination to get a positive news cycle. We’ll never know. Regardless, we stand at the ready to pour free beer the day it happens.”
The post referenced an earlier offer of free beer the day Trump dies and quickly drew widespread condemnation for revealing a disturbing level of political hatred that has become all too common on the left.
Cooke, who presents herself as a moderate waitress and daughter of dairy farmers from Eau Claire, previously worked as a political operative and fundraiser for Bangstad’s campaigns and associated causes. Records show Bangstad and his affiliated entities have funneled significant money toward Cooke’s political efforts over the years, including contributions and support during her time as a Democratic staffer and operative.
The revelation comes as Cooke attempts to flip the competitive western Wisconsin district, which has consistently supported Trump. Van Orden, a staunch conservative and Trump ally, has highlighted such connections as evidence that national Democrats are pouring resources into radicalizing rural districts.
Cooke’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment on her work for Bangstad or the nature of his financial backing.
Van Orden called Cooke “unfit for office” over her ties to Bangstad, posting on X Saturday that “she needs to answer for this now.”
“Rebecca Cooke worked for this reprehensible scum, and this is exactly what he is,” Van Orden said. “This is shocking and she needs to answer for this now. Unfit for office, both of them.”
