In rural Wisconsin, frustrations over Trump ag policies heat up House race

Key Points:

• Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke balances campaigning across Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District with waiting tables in Eau Claire, aiming to flip the competitive seat held by Republican Derrick Van Orden in the November midterms.
• Van Orden, a retired Navy SEAL and Trump supporter, backs policies including 2025 tax cuts that reduce Medicaid and food aid, which have adversely impacted rural areas in the district, while also supporting Trump's trade tariffs and the war with Iran, contributing to increased fuel and fertilizer costs.
• The district is politically split, having voted for Obama and Trump in past presidential elections, with recent congressional races decided by narrow margins; Cooke seeks to capitalize on rural discontent with Trump's policies to regain the seat for Democrats.
• Local farmers report struggling with high fuel and fertilizer prices and the loss of federal food purchasing programs, with some expressing support for Cooke due to these economic challenges, while others remain loyal to Van Orden but desire an end to the Iran conflict.
• Cooke positions herself as a moderate Democrat with rural roots, focusing on expanding support for rural hospitals, curbing farm consolidation, and strengthening labor unions, contrasting with Van Orden's attacks on her previous political work and emphasizing the need for change in the district.