Rebecca Cooke, a small-business owner from Eau Claire, won the Wisconsin Democratic primary on August 11, 2026, setting up a November rematch with Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden in one of the nation’s most competitive House races. Cooke defeated Emily Berge, the former Eau Claire city council president, in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District.
This is Cooke’s third consecutive run for the seat. She lost the Democratic primary in 2022 and narrowly fell short in the 2024 general election, losing to Van Orden by just 2.8 percentage points—about 11,000 votes—according to election records. In that 2024 race, Cooke received 48.6 percent of the vote while Van Orden won with 51.4 percent.
Cooke has outraised Van Orden in fundraising for the 2026 race, according to reporting from Wisconsin Public Radio. She has positioned her campaign around rural economic issues, including farm costs, tariffs, fuel prices, and cuts to food aid and Medicaid. Her campaign has also received backing from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and national women’s organizations.
Van Orden, a Republican first elected in 2022, is seeking a third term. He has received strong support from President Donald Trump, whose administration has made Wisconsin’s 3rd District a priority stop for Cabinet officials, according to Politico reporting from July 2026. The district has become what the outlet called “the Trump administration’s No. 1 domestic stop for Cabinet officials.”
Political analysts view the Wisconsin 3rd District race as one of the fiercest House contests in 2026. The Cook Political Report rates the race as highly competitive, with both parties investing heavily in the district. Though Trump carried the district by 7.5 percentage points in 2024, Van Orden’s narrow 2.8-point victory margin in that same year signaled the seat’s vulnerability. A June 2026 poll showed Cooke leading Van Orden 50-46, according to Wisconsin Politics.
Democrats have tied Van Orden to Trump’s broader policy agenda, attacking the congressman over tariffs that they argue raise costs for Wisconsin families. Van Orden has focused on what he calls rural America’s neglect by Washington, emphasizing support for farmers and highlighting Trump administration initiatives.
The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026. Two independent candidates—Alexander Valiensi Kent and Rustin Provance—are also running in the race, though the contest is expected to be decided between Cooke and Van Orden.
Sources
- NBC News — Primary results confirming Cooke’s victory
- The New York Times — Cooke’s background and 2024 race details
- Wisconsin Public Radio — 2024 election results (51.4% Van Orden, 48.6% Cooke); fundraising reporting
- The Hill — Rematch confirmation and 2024 margin details
- PBS NewsHour — Cooke’s campaign history and Van Orden’s Trump alignment
- Politico — Trump administration Cabinet visits to the district
- Cook Political Report — Competitive race rating
- Wisconsin Politics — June 2026 poll showing Cooke leading 50-46
- Ballotpedia — Primary date and candidate information
