LA CROSSE, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – There will likely be no debate between the candidates for Wisconsin’s third congressional district after negotiations between the two campaigns and the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce fell apart.
Democrat Rebecca Cooke is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Derrick Van Orden.
According to the Cooke campaign, they are withdrawing from debate negotiations, saying it was “clear Van Orden was not willing to participate in a non-partisan debate.”
However the Van Orden campaign says it is the Cooke campaign that is not willing to participate, and is releasing audio recordings of the debate negotiations. In the recording released by the Van Orden campaign a Van Orden staffer can be heard asking a Cooke campaign staffer, “So you’re declining this debate as well?” The Cooke staffer answers, “We are not continuing with these negotiations as they clearly are not being held in good faith.”
There were no debates between Cooke and Van Orden when they ran against each other in 2024.
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