The Blue Dog Trap: Why Wisconsin’s 3rd Can’t Afford Another Corporate Democrat

This summer, the Blue Dog PAC’s decision to make Rebecca Cooke their first endorsement of the 2026 cycle tells you everything you need to know about both the Wisconsin candidate and the struggling, corporately-aligned congressional institution. The Blue Dogs are not, and have never been, a home for progressives. They were founded in the 1990s to block the left, and ever since, they’ve been the corporate Democrats’ go-to wrecking crew— sabotaging healthcare reform, weakening climate legislation and carrying water for Wall Street and the Pentagon. When working families needed bold action, the Blue Dogs lined up with Republicans to say “no.” That is their record, and it is a sordid one.

We’ve seen this play out time and again. During the Affordable Care Act fight, the Blue Dogs stripped out the public option and forced giveaways to the insurance industry, leaving millions stuck with weaker coverage than they should have had. They backed George W. Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy, then helped hold the middle class hostage to extend them. They rubber-stamped the Iraq War and still brand themselves as the “strong national defense” caucus, code for blank checks to the Pentagon while schools and healthcare get austerity. They cozied up to Wall Street deregulators before the 2008 crash, then watered down reforms afterward while making sure the banks got bailed out. They even gutted climate legislation in 2009 to please Big Oil and Big Coal. More recently, Blue Dogs like Jared Golden— the very man chairing their PAC today— blocked a $15 minimum wage, fought against prescription drug price negotiations, and worked to shrink Biden’s Build Back Better agenda. This is not ancient history. This is their playbook.

Rebecca Cooke knows exactly what she’s signing up for by embracing their endorsement again. In her third congressional run, she’s been reluctant to admit to Wisconsin voters that she’s a staffer for the odious DC Third Way operation. I wonder how she explained that to Bernie— or even she did. Her campaign biography— farm girl roots, waiting tables at night— makes for good copy, but look past the narrative and you find a candidate who doesn’t back Medicare for All, doesn’t take a stand against Israel’s war in Gaza, and doesn’t commit to the very policies progressives have fought for decades to advance. She’s happy to take Blue Dog money, and with it comes the Blue Dog program: fiscal austerity, watered-down reform and a permanent excuse for inaction.

I only ever spoke with Cooke once— part of an unconvincing group interview for a progressive non-profit. She was obviously cribbing from a prepared list of talking points designed for the purpose.

The Blue Dogs’ model of “electability” is a lie. They love to present themselves as the only Democrats who can win in tough swing districts, but time and again they’ve lost their seats while dragging the party to the right. Their centrism demoralizes the base, blurs distinctions with the GOP, and leaves working people wondering why they should bother voting at all. Wisconsin’s Third District doesn’t need another Democrat who will cave to corporate interests under the banner of “pragmatism.” It needs someone who will fight.

That’s exactly what Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge offers. She’s the real progressive in the race— explicitly campaigning for Medicare for All, standing against U.S. complicity in Gaza, and bringing an actual record of progressive leadership. She’s not hiding behind platitudes about “common sense” or “working across the aisle.” She’s putting her values on the line.

The tragedy here is that Bernie has allowed himself to be talked into endorsing a candidate like Cooke, despite her Blue Dog/Third Way ties and lack of progressive commitments. That’s a mistake— but Wisconsin voters don’t have to make the same one. They can look past the D.C. powerbrokers, past the Blue Dogs’ spin, and past Cooke’s carefully packaged biography. They can choose the candidate who will actually fight for them, not the one who will sell them out the first time the Chamber of Commerce or AIPAC comes knocking.

Last night I had another discussion with Emily. She reiterated that “the people of Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district and all of America deserve a leader who represents them, not ultra-rich donors, corporations, or Washington insiders. For the past eight years, I've served as a local elected leader, focusing on the toughest issues facing my community. I've tackled challenges like finding solutions to the housing crisis, helping our community recover after a hospital closure, protecting residents during the pandemic, standing up for immigrants, and ensuring our city has PFAS-free water. My track record shows that I stand up for what's right, and the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. In Congress, I will continue this work, fighting for key issues like Medicare for All, affordable housing, and clean water. I will also be a voice for human rights, including working to end the genocide in Gaza.”

The Blue Dogs organized 30 years ago. I’ve never known of any becoming more progressive/less conservative. But right from the original founders there has been a steady flow who have switched to the Republican Party including Billy Tauzin (LA), Michael Parker (MS), Ralph Hall (TX), Virgil Goode (VA), Jimmy Hayes (LA), Nathan Deal (GA), Rodney Alexander (LA), Parker Griffith (AL), Gene Taylor (MS), Jim Marshall (GA), Jeff Van Drew (NJ), Bobby Bright (AL)… The Blue Dogs are the past. Progressive populists like Emily Berge are the future. Democratic primary voters in Wisconsin’s third district will decide which one it wants. Please consider helping Emily get her message out by contributing what you can to her campaign.