The race for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District is intensifying as the August 11, 2026, Democratic primary approaches.
Democrat Rebecca Cooke, a nonprofit founder and local waitress, has secured a commanding financial lead over her primary challenger, positioning herself as the frontrunner to take on Republican incumbent Representative Derrick Van Orden in November.
According to the latest Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, Cooke raised nearly $1.7 million between April 1 and June 30, 2026. This brings her total campaign haul to a staggering $7.5 million for this election cycle.
Her primary opponent, Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge, raised $121,000 during the same quarter.
While Berge maintains grassroots support in the region, Cooke enters the final stretch of the primary with $2.5 million in cash on hand, making her one of the most well-funded non-incumbent Democratic challengers in the United States.
The High-Stakes Battle for Western Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District covers a sweeping, politically diverse landscape of rural towns, family farms, and mid-sized cities like Eau Claire and La Crosse.
National political analysts consistently label the district as a critical, “toss-up” swing region that could determine which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives.
Recognizing the strategic importance of flipping the seat, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) added Cooke to its elite “Red to Blue” program.
This designation funnels top-tier national infrastructure, strategic training, and donor networks directly into her campaign.
| Candidate | Q2 Fundraising (2026) | Total Raised to Date | Cash on Hand | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rebecca Cooke | $1.67 Million | $7.5 Million | $2.5 Million | Democratic |
| Emily Berge | $121,000 | $687,000 | $109,000 | Democratic |
| Derrick Van Orden | $1.1 Million | N/A | $4.7 Million | Republican (Incumbent) |
Data compiled from recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports and FEC data.
A Working-Class Strategy and Rural Roots
Cooke’s political brand is deeply tied to her identity as a 6th-generation Wisconsinite.
Raised on a family dairy farm in Wheaton, Cooke frequently highlights her experience balancing real-world economic pressures.
In addition to running her campaign, she works shifts as a waitress at a local restaurant to stay connected to working-class realities.
“Workers power this state, and workers power this country,” Cooke stated during a recent campaign stop on French Island.
Her focus on labor and employment earned her a major endorsement from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Wisconsin. This adds to a growing coalition of over a dozen labor unions backing her bid.
Before launching her congressional campaigns, Cooke served as an economic advocate. Governor Tony Evers appointed her to the board of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
She also founded the Red Letter Grant, a regional nonprofit that has helped launch over 50 female-owned small businesses in northwestern Wisconsin.
Policy Clashes and the Final Forum
As the primary draws near, the ideological distinctions between Cooke and Berge have come into sharper focus.
At their final candidate forum at Chippewa Valley Technical College, both candidates identified healthcare as the paramount issue facing western Wisconsin.
[ August 11 Primary ]
│
┌───────────────┴───────────────┐
▼ ▼
Rebecca Cooke Emily Berge
(Moderate / "Red to Blue") (Progressive / Local Official)
│ │
└───────────────┬───────────────┘
▼
[ November General Election ]
│
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Rep. Derrick Van Orden
(Incumbent Republican)
Cooke pointed to the devastating impact of recent hospital closures in the Chippewa Valley, promising to lower prescription medication costs and improve rural access.
To cement this priority, Cooke signed a “Cancer Promise” pledge alongside local survivors in La Crosse, vowing to make life-saving medical care affordable.
However, Berge has sought to position herself as the true progressive choice. Following the forum, Berge emphasized that she is the only candidate explicitly backing “Medicare for All” and a comprehensive conversion therapy ban.
Berge also points to her proven legislative record as the top elected official in Eau Claire, contrasting her municipal experience with Cooke’s background.
Navigating Incumbent Criticism and Campaign Hurdles
As Cooke’s fundraising dominance establishes her as the likely general election challenger, the incumbent Republican apparatus has intensified its focus on her platform.
The Van Orden campaign recently launched a series of critiques, accusing Cooke of shifting her policy stances on gun control, law enforcement funding, and social issues to appeal to a broader general electorate.
Cooke has pushed back firmly against these claims. She reiterates her support for the Second Amendment while advocating for common-sense gun safety measures like universal background checks and red flag laws.
Separately, Cooke’s campaign faced scrutiny regarding a routine transparency issue.
The candidate requested an extension to file her official congressional financial disclosure, pushing her deadline to August 13—two days after the primary.
While a local resident filed a formal complaint with the House Ethics Committee over the delay, Cooke’s campaign dismissed the move as politically motivated.
They noted that her comprehensive financial disclosures from 2024 and early 2025 remain fully accessible for public review.
Looking Ahead to November
The winner of the August 11 primary will face a formidable opponent in Representative Van Orden. While Cooke leads in active quarterly fundraising, the Republican incumbent sits on a massive war chest of $4.7 million in cash on hand.
Cooke narrowly missed unseating Van Orden in 2024, losing by fewer than three percentage points while notably outperforming the top of the Democratic ticket in rural precincts.
With historically high fundraising totals, national backing, and solid union support, Cooke’s campaign is banking on her working-class message to bridge the gap and flip western Wisconsin blue.