Who's In the Race

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) faces Democrat Rebecca Cooke, independent Alexander Valiensi Kent and independent Rustin Provance in the Nov. 3 general election in Wisconsin's 3rd District. The contest is partly a rematch: Van Orden defeated Cooke in 2024. ​

Van Orden served 26 years in the U.S. Navy and retired as a Navy SEAL Senior Chief, according to his House biography. He won the Republican primary on Aug. 11.

Cooke is a small-business owner and nonprofit leader who grew up on a sixth-generation Wisconsin dairy farm, according to her campaign. She won the Democratic primary over Emily Berge.

What They Stand For

Van Orden says on his campaign website that he wants to rebuild the economy, and he lists health care and cost reduction, transportation and infrastructure, veterans' issues, and safe communities as priorities.

Cooke has proposed lowering costs and expanding economic opportunity for working people and retirees, particularly in rural areas, according to her campaign website. She has also supported:

  • Ending the Hyde Amendment, which restricts abortion coverage through federal programs including Medicaid and Medicare,
  • Federal programs to improve access to health care; and
  • Working with Wisconsin farmers on agricultural runoff that contributes to nitrate pollution in waterways.

Kent says on his campaign website that he believes in an online political evolution via the Voter Directed Network.

Provance says on his campaign website that he supports judicial system and Social Security reforms.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

The Cook Political Report rated the race a Toss-up as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it a Toss-up as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it a Toss-up as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Democrats, whose nominee is Cooke, a 74% chance of winning the seat as of Oct. 13; Republicans, whose nominee is Van Orden, stood at 26%.

Van Orden won the district with about 52 percent in 2022 and about 51 percent in 2024. Republicans held six of Wisconsin's eight U.S. House seats after both the 2022 and 2024 elections. Donald Trump carried Wisconsin in the 2024 presidential race with about 50 percent of the vote.

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