Cooke Flips Wisconsin House Seat in Rematch With Van Orden
November 4, 2026 — Democrat Rebecca Cooke defeated Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, taking a seat Republicans had won in the previous two elections. The Associated Press called the race at 12:48 a.m., with Cooke leading 52.4% to 45.8% and 91% of ballots counted.
The result reverses Cooke’s 2024 loss to Van Orden, when he won by 2.7 percentage points. The western Wisconsin district has moved between the parties: Republicans won its House seat in 2022 and 2024, while Democrat Ron Kind held it for 26 years before retiring.
Van Orden, a retired Navy SEAL who had President Donald Trump’s endorsement, was seeking another term. Cooke, a small-business owner who founded a nonprofit, was making her second general-election run for the seat. She raised nearly $12 million, compared with $8.8 million for Van Orden, based on the latest Federal Election Commission figures cited in the race coverage.
The contest featured disputes over the Iran war, economic pressures on farmers, data center development and AI-generated campaign videos. Cooke’s lawyer sent Van Orden a cease-and-desist letter over videos that falsely attributed statements to her; his campaign called the move a stunt. The election was part of the struggle to secure a House majority, as each party sought the seats needed for control. Third-party contenders Alexander Valiensi Kent and Rustin Provance also appeared on the ballot.
Cooke’s Win Delivers a Check on Van Orden and Trump
November 4, 2026 — Wisconsin voters replaced Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden with Democrat Rebecca Cooke, turning a closely contested district blue and dealing a setback to a GOP incumbent backed by President Donald Trump. Cooke led 52.4% to 45.8% when the Associated Press called the race, with 91% of ballots counted.
The result came after Cooke lost to Van Orden by 2.7 points in 2024. Van Orden had Trump’s endorsement, but the district’s recent elections showed that its presidential and House voting patterns did not always align: Trump won it in 2024 by about 7.3 points, while Van Orden’s margin over Cooke was much narrower.
The campaign put economic strains on farmers in the spotlight. Farmers faced higher fertilizer and diesel costs amid the Iran war, while Trump’s tariffs added financial pressure. Van Orden, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, defended the war even as he acknowledged it made it harder for Republicans to hold congressional majorities.
Cooke also challenged Van Orden over AI-generated videos that falsely attributed statements to her. Her lawyer called the material defamatory and sent a cease-and-desist letter; Van Orden’s campaign dismissed the warning as a stunt. The outcome gives Democrats a gain in their battle for House control, while the campaign’s disputes over war, economic policy and technology remain central stakes for the district.
Van Orden’s Loss Shows the Cost of War and Economic Strain
November 4, 2026 — Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden lost Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District to Democrat Rebecca Cooke, surrendering a seat the GOP had held since 2022. Cooke led 52.4% to 45.8% when the Associated Press called the race, with 91% of ballots counted.
Van Orden had Trump’s endorsement and had beaten Cooke by 2.7 points in 2024. But this rematch unfolded amid financial uncertainty for farmers, with fertilizer and diesel costs rising as the Iran war affected the district and Trump’s tariffs added pressure. Van Orden had defended the conflict, while acknowledging that it complicated Republicans’ efforts to retain control of Congress.
The race also became a fight over data centers and AI. Both candidates accused the other of backing policies favorable to data center development. Cooke’s lawyer sent Van Orden a cease-and-desist letter over AI-made videos that falsely attributed statements to her; his campaign called the warning a stunt.
The loss is a setback for Republicans competing to keep the House, and it shows the challenge facing an incumbent in a district that has shifted between parties. Cooke, a small-business owner and nonprofit founder, was running for the seat for a second time after her narrow defeat in 2024. Third-party contenders Alexander Valiensi Kent and Rustin Provance were also on the ballot.
Reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Examiner, CBS News, Townhall.
