Democrat Rebecca Cooke Defeats GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden in Key House Race
Southwestern Wisconsin district was among the most closely watched in nation.
Rebecca Cooke. Photo from Rebecca Cooke for Congress.
Eau Claire Democrat Rebecca Cooke defeated Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden in one of the nation’s most closely watched congressional races.
Cooke said around 10:30 p.m. that Van Orden had called to concede the race. The Associated Press had not yet called the race.
During her victory speech, Cooke said she is “on a mission” to deliver on her promises to address affordability, support farmers and “bring down the goddamn price of gas.”
“This is a victory for all of us, for anyone who is struggling to pay your rent or your mortgage, drowning in medical debt, worrying if you’ll have to sell the farm,” Cooke told supporters at her watch party in Eau Claire. “Help is coming.”
Before calling to concede the race, Van Orden urged his supporters to accept Cooke’s win.
“It’s incumbent upon you to make sure that you understand that and that you support her,” Van Orden told his supporters. “That’s who we are as Americans. That’s who we are as Republicans, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Van Orden said he wished Cooke “the absolute very best” in Congress.
Eau Claire Democrat Rebecca Cooke gives her victory speech after being elected as state representative for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District on Nov. 3, 2026. Hope Kirwan/WPR
Cooke, a former small business owner who has worked as a Democratic fundraising consultant, spoke frequently about her work as a server in restaurants and her connection to the district’s agricultural and working-class roots. She received endorsements from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party as well as moderate Democrats.
Like other Democrats, she also made affordability a centerpiece of her campaign, blasting the war in Iran for causing hikes in gas and diesel prices and President Donald Trump’s tariffs for harming the businesses of the district’s many farmers.
Wisconsin’s 3rd District was one of a small number of seats considered up for grabs in the U.S. House this fall, and both parties poured money into the race. GOP megadonor Elon Musk spent about $4.6 million to help Van Orden, according to October campaign finance reports. And a succession of Trump cabinet officials and party leaders made appearances with Van Orden in the district.
But in the last weeks running up to the election, there were signs momentum was building behind Cooke’s challenge. Her campaign outraised and outspent Van Orden in the latest campaign finance report. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report also moved their rating for the race from “Toss Up” to “Lean Democrat.”
Van Orden himself seemed to acknowledge the tough challenge heading into Tuesday’s election. During a debate in late October, Van Orden said the war in Iran was making the 2026 elections “exponentially harder” for Republicans in Congress.
Before Van Orden won the seat in 2022, the largely rural district covering southwestern and part of central Wisconsin was held for more than 20 years by moderate Democrat Ron Kind.
Democrat Rebecca Cooke defeats GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden in key congressional race was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
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