Democrat Rebecca Cooke Wins Wisconsin Primary, Sets Rematch with Rep. Van Orden
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Rebecca Cooke secured the Democratic nomination in Wisconsin’s 3rd District, positioning her for a November showdown with incumbent Republican Derrick Van Orden, while other competitive House races unfold in the Midwest and South.
Rebecca Cooke, a small-business owner from western Wisconsin, won the Democratic primary in the state’s 3rd Congressional District, according to NBC News projections. She will face two-term Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden again in the November general election, a contest that ended with Cooke losing by roughly three percentage points in 2024 despite President Donald Trump carrying the district by seven points.
Cooke, who grew up on a dairy farm, emphasized her mixed political support, noting backing from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, moderate groups such as New Dems and Blue Dogs, and endorsement from Senator Bernie Sanders. > "I am a Blue Dog and a New Dem, but I’m also very progressive where it counts," she said last year, adding that she rejects partisan labels.
The Van Orden campaign has criticized Cooke for aligning with what it calls the party’s most extreme elements, citing her past statements about supporting a New York mayoral candidate and advocating for a ban on AR-15 rifles.
Fundraising totals show Cooke raising about $8.6 million this cycle, slightly ahead of Van Orden’s $7.5 million. Super PACs from both parties have already reserved $9 million in television airtime for the fall race.
In other Wisconsin contests, former VA nurse Mitchell Berman won the Democratic primary in the 1st District, where Republican Rep. Bryan Steil, endorsed by Trump, is seeking a fifth term. Berman’s campaign has raised roughly $713,000 compared with Steil’s $5.5 million.
Further Midwest races include Minnesota’s 1st District, where high-school teacher Jake Johnson secured the Democratic nomination to challenge GOP Rep. Brad Finstad, and the state’s open 2nd District, where State Sen. Matt Little will face Republican State Sen. Eric Pratt.
In the South, Republicans aim to capture Alabama’s newly redrawn 2nd District. State Rep. Rhett Marques, backed by Trump and senior GOP leaders, will contest the seat held by Democrat Shomari Figures, whose district became more favorable to Republicans after a court-ordered map change.