Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Vol. I · No. 22 · Late Edition Print size
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The Wire
Ilhan Omar says agents took 17 items in raid, and threats will force her to move On tape: Asked to pledge no election interference, Kash Patel said he won't take part in a "charade of lies." Vance defends Ramaswamy ad using Amy Acton's estranged mother in Ohio race Democrats sue Trump and DOJ over pressure on state election officials before midterms On tape: Asked if hundreds of FBI agents in Georgia produced a single indictment, Kash Patel says: "Not if it was sealed." On tape: Schiff asks Kash Patel point blank: were Trump-case agents purged from the FBI? Trump's women's health order creates an NIH division but sets no dollar amount Medicaid cuts dominate Senate debates as Republicans defend their 2025 law Trump rallies for Darline Graham as South Carolina Senate race tightens On tape: Talarico says Ken Paxton will show up anywhere but a Texas debate stage Ilhan Omar says agents took 17 items in raid, and threats will force her to move On tape: Asked to pledge no election interference, Kash Patel said he won't take part in a "charade of lies." Vance defends Ramaswamy ad using Amy Acton's estranged mother in Ohio race Democrats sue Trump and DOJ over pressure on state election officials before midterms On tape: Asked if hundreds of FBI agents in Georgia produced a single indictment, Kash Patel says: "Not if it was sealed." On tape: Schiff asks Kash Patel point blank: were Trump-case agents purged from the FBI? Trump's women's health order creates an NIH division but sets no dollar amount Medicaid cuts dominate Senate debates as Republicans defend their 2025 law Trump rallies for Darline Graham as South Carolina Senate race tightens On tape: Talarico says Ken Paxton will show up anywhere but a Texas debate stage
Rebecca Cooke U.S. House — Wisconsin's 3rd District Lean D First run
WI-3nominee

U.S. House — Wisconsin's 3rd District · First run

Rebecca Cooke

Rebecca Cooke is an Eau Claire small business owner who grew up on a dairy farm and won the Democratic primary on Aug. 11, 2026. She faces Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden in a rematch of 2024, when she lost by less than 3 points.

On the ballot against Derrick Van Orden (R)

Why it matters: This western Wisconsin seat is one of the most closely contested in the country, and Van Orden held it by less than 3 points in 2024.

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The race at a glance

Race ratingLean DSabato's Crystal Ball, Oct 20 source
Money raised (through Sep 30) Cooke$11,959,646 Van Orden$8,794,975 $901,408 cash on hand. source

In Rebecca's own words

This was a war that our president started without any sort of congressional approval
Rebecca Cooke, on the war in Iran, during her debate with Derrick Van Orden in Eau Claire, Oct 20 source
We did that, I think, by really working to show up in rural communities and working-class spaces to talk to people about the issues and things that we knew were really keeping people up at night
Rebecca Cooke, on building support across the district, after winning the primary, Aug 11 source

Where Rebecca stands

Cost of living
She would cap out-of-pocket costs for essential drugs at $30 a month and restore Medicaid and Affordable Care Act funding. source
Social Security and Medicare
She would repeal the tax on Social Security benefits, lift the cap on Social Security taxes and expand Medicare to cover dental, vision and hearing. source
Corruption
She would ban stock trading by members of Congress and the White House, set term limits and overturn Citizens United. source
Farming
She would expand export markets, enforce antitrust laws against big agribusiness and end tariffs that disrupt farm trade. source
War in Iran
She says the war was started without congressional approval and Congress should pass a war powers resolution. source

The record

  • Grew up on a dairy farm near Eau Claire and paid for college with Pell Grants, work-study jobs and waitressing.
  • Opened Red's Mercantile in 2015 and in 2016 founded the Red Letter Grant, a nonprofit that helps women start businesses.
  • Lost to Derrick Van Orden in 2024 by less than 3 points, 48.6% to 51.3%.
ConfidentialThe GOP File

The file on Derrick Van Orden

  • Van Orden voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and defended that vote at the Oct. 20, 2026 debate. source
  • Van Orden attended the "Stop the Steal" rally and was at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack. source
  • In August 2026, Van Orden was criticized for posting AI-generated videos that showed Cooke making statements she had not made. source

Endorsed by

Wisconsin AFL-CIOEMILY's ListNational Committee to Preserve Social Security and MedicareSen. Tammy BaldwinWisconsin Education Association Council

Rebecca Cooke. Photo: UpNorthNews, CC BY 3.0

Profile sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Race data checked Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Quotes on this page were matched word for word against their sources.