EAU CLAIRE (Azat TV) – Democrat Rebecca Cooke defeated Republican incumbent Representative Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District race late Tuesday night, flipping a closely watched congressional seat back to Democratic control. The Associated Press called the race at 11:48 p.m. on November 3, 2026, with Cooke holding 52.4 percent of the vote, leading with 156,573 votes to Van Orden’s 136,950 with 91 percent of votes counted, as reported by WKOW.
Van Orden conceded the election earlier in the evening, addressing his supporters around 10:30 p.m. and urging them to support Cooke moving forward. During her victory speech in Eau Claire, Cooke emphasized her commitment to addressing household affordability, supporting local farmers, and tackling rising energy costs. Wisconsin Public Radio reported that Cooke told her supporters that help is coming for anyone struggling with rent, mortgages, or medical debt.
Economic Pressures and Campaign Dynamics
The contest in southwestern and central Wisconsin drew intense national attention and heavy outside financial investments from both political parties. Economic anxieties, particularly concerning affordability, gas and diesel price spikes linked to the conflict in Iran, and agricultural pressures, formed the centerpiece of the campaign. Cooke’s campaign leveraged her background as a former small business owner and restaurant server, connecting with working-class voters and agricultural communities across the largely rural district.
National figures and heavy spending marked the final weeks of the race. GOP megadonor Elon Musk spent approximately $4.6 million to assist Van Orden’s reelection bid, according to October campaign finance reports cited by Wisconsin Public Radio, while various cabinet officials and party leaders made campaign stops in the district. Despite the significant Republican backing, Cooke’s campaign ultimately outraised and outspent the incumbent in the closing reporting period, while the nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted its rating from a toss-up to a lean-Democrat designation.
Shifting Political Landscape in Southwestern Wisconsin
Van Orden had served as the U.S. representative for the district since winning the seat in 2023, following a 26-year career in the United States Navy as a Navy SEAL Senior Chief and subsequent corporate consulting work. Before Van Orden’s 2022 victory, the district had been represented for more than twenty years by moderate Democrat Ron Kind, illustrating the swing nature of the electorate.
During a late October debate, Van Orden acknowledged that external pressures, including rising gas prices driven by the war in Iran, made the 2026 midterm elections challenging for congressional Republicans. Cooke secured key endorsements from both progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party, including Senator Tammy Baldwin and Senator Bernie Sanders, positioning her coalition to reclaim the district for the upcoming congressional term.