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Candidate profile · Wisconsin Congressional District 3

Rebecca Cooke

Democratic

Photo of Rebecca Cooke

About

Rebecca Cooke of Eau Claire is a small-business owner, nonprofit owner, and waitress who ran for Wisconsin's 3rd District in 2022 and 2024, losing the 2024 general election to Derrick Van Orden by about 11,186 votes. She won the August 11, 2026 Democratic primary with about 60.5% of the vote over Emily Berge, setting up a rematch with Van Orden.

Positions on the issues

Affordability

Focused on tackling the affordability crisis with better wages, more economic opportunities, and lower taxes for working families; opposes corporate price-gouging (per Ballotpedia Candidate Connection via Ballotpedia News; Civic Media, August 5, 2026).

Health care

Has made health-care access and costs central to her campaign; supports a public option, ACA tax credits, and expanding Medicare to cover vision, dental, and hearing (per Election Central, September 2026; USA Today Network questionnaires, July-August 2026).

AI data centers

Called for a federal pause on new large-scale data-center projects until stronger rules are in place, citing electricity demand, land use, and local infrastructure (per Election Central, September 2026).

Minimum wage

Supports a $15 federal minimum wage (per USA Today Network questionnaires, July-August 2026).

Reproductive rights

Supports abortion rights (per USA Today Network questionnaires, July-August 2026).

Gun safety

Supports background checks and red-flag enforcement (per USA Today Network questionnaires, July-August 2026).

Agriculture

Supports farmland ownership restrictions and opposes tariffs that harm farms (per USA Today Network questionnaires, July-August 2026).

Accountability

Has criticized Van Orden for not holding in-person town halls and says voters deserve accountability (per Ballotpedia News, August 21, 2026).

Experience

Campaign funding

FEC, through July 22, 2026: raised $8,601,146; cash on hand $1,826,605 (reported in the 2026 Wisconsin House elections overview).

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Research sources (6)
  1. news.ballotpedia.org
  2. uspresidentialelectionnews.com
  3. civicmedia.us
  4. stevenspointjournal.com
  5. jsonline.com
  6. cookeforwisconsin.com