Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) is facing a rematch against political fundraiser and waitress Rebecca Cooke (D) for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District seat, a battleground district in central and western Wisconsin that has drawn national attention as both parties compete for control of the House.
Cooke previously challenged Van Orden in 2024, losing by just over 11,000 votes. She fended off a primary challenge from former Eau Claire City Council member Janet Beverly to secure the Democratic nomination again this cycle, according to Decision Desk HQ projections.
What the Left Is Saying
Cooke's campaign has framed the race as a choice between prioritizing Wisconsin families and supporting out-of-touch Republican policies. Supporters point to her background in political fundraising combined with service industry experience as representing working-class constituents in the district.
Democratic strategists argue that the narrow margin in 2024 indicates Van Orden is vulnerable, particularly if voter turnout models improve in Democratic strongholds like Eau Claire and La Crosse. The party has signaled it will invest resources in this race as part of its broader House majority strategy.
What the Right Is Saying
Van Orden's campaign has emphasized his work on behalf of Wisconsin since taking office, highlighting legislative priorities aligned with conservative voters in the district's rural areas. Republicans contend that Cooke's 2024 loss demonstrates the electorate's rejection of her platform.
GOP officials note that the district's mix of suburban and rural voters historically tilts Republican in federal races, making them confident about Van Orden's position heading into November. The National Republican Congressional Committee has included Wisconsin's 3rd District on its target list for incumbent protection.
What the Numbers Show
Van Orden won the 2024 general election by approximately 11,000 votes out of more than 330,000 ballots cast, according to official results. That represents a margin of roughly 3 percentage points in a district that former President Donald Trump carried in the 2024 presidential contest.
The Cook County native defeated two primary challengers to secure the Democratic nomination this cycle. The 3rd District covers 22 counties across central and western Wisconsin, including portions of Eau Claire, La Crosse, and Stevens Point communities.
The Bottom Line
The rematch will test whether Cooke can improve on her 2024 performance in a midterm election environment that historically favors the party not holding the White House. Both parties are expected to dedicate significant campaign infrastructure to this race given its status as a potential swing seat that could determine House control. Expect voter registration drives and get-out-the-vote operations to intensify in key population centers as November approaches.