Democrat Rebecca Cooke Defeats Incumbent Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin

Rebecca Cooke won the 2026 election for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, unseating Republican incumbent Representative Derrick Van Orden. Van Orden had held the seat since 2022 and served on the House Agriculture, House Veterans Affairs, and House Armed Services Committees.

Cooke, a small business owner from Eau Claire and founder of the nonprofit Red Letter Grant, previously served on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Board by appointment of Governor Tim Evers. Her campaign platform focused on expanding Medicare, lowering the cost of essential drugs like insulin, ending the Iran War, and enforcing anti-trust laws to support family farms.

Van Orden centered his campaign on supporting the immigration policies of President Donald Trump and improving transportation and infrastructure throughout western Wisconsin.