Wisconsin Democrat Shifts Position on Conversion Therapy Amid Progressive Pressure

Rebecca Cooke, the Democratic challenger attempting to unseat Rep. Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, faced mounting criticism after reversing her earlier opposition to a federal conversion therapy ban. At multiple campaign forums preceding the Aug. 11 primary, Cooke had declined to support federal prohibition of the controversial practice, instead advocating for local control of the issue.

Progressive voters responded with sharp criticism on social media, accusing Cooke of abandoning LGBTQ+ protections to maintain moderate credentials in the swing district. One commenter wrote on Facebook: “I find it interesting that not in one, but TWO forums you said you would leave conversion therapy up to the states to decide. That is not protecting the LGBTQ community.”

At a May forum in La Crosse, Cooke stated she preferred “local communities having control” on conversion therapy policy. During a June candidate forum in Platteville, she answered “no” when directly asked whether the federal government should ban the practice. Following the backlash, Cooke claimed she had “misunderstood” the moderator’s question and subsequently posted a statement expressing support for a federal ban.

Her primary opponent, former Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge, consistently opposed conversion therapy throughout the campaign forums. “As a therapist, conversion therapy has no place in our society, in our culture,” Berge stated during the June event, contrasting sharply with Cooke’s initial equivocation.

Republicans seized on Cooke’s reversal as evidence of political opportunism. Republican National Committee spokesman Hunter Lovell told Fox News Digital that Cooke was “so desperate to appease the far-left woke mob that Wisconsin voters can’t be sure where she actually stands.” Van Orden’s campaign characterized her shift as an attempt to simultaneously appeal to liberal activists and moderate voters.

Cooke has previously campaigned twice for the seat, losing to Van Orden in 2024 by less than three points—a significantly closer margin than former Vice President Kamala Harris achieved in the district. The Cook Political Report rates the contest as a toss-up, though President Donald Trump carried the sprawling swing district by over seven points in the last election.

The candidate has emphasized the Equality Act—legislation that would establish sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under federal civil rights law—as a centerpiece of her campaign. She has also secured endorsement from the progressive Human Rights Campaign and counts Sen. Bernie Sanders among her supporters.