Wisconsin 3rd Congressional District primary election: Cooke wins Dem nomination
Rebecca Cooke (left) and Emily Berge (right) (Supplied)
(FOX 9) - Voters in western and southwestern Wisconsin have chosen their Democratic nominee for one of the state’s most competitive congressional districts, electing Rebecca Cooke as their candidate to head to the general election in November.
Wisconsin 3rd Congressional District primary election results
The Democratic primary contest featured Rebecca Cooke, a business owner making her third consecutive run for the seat, and Emily Berge, a licensed counselor and former Eau Claire City Council president.
Incumbent Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden ran unopposed.
Find live results below:
Democratic nomination
What we know:
Cooke, 38, was raised on an Eau Claire County dairy farm. She previously opened a retail business in Eau Claire and a nonprofit that supports women entrepreneurs, and served on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. board under Gov. Tony Evers. Cooke won the Democratic nomination in 2024 before losing narrowly to Van Orden in the general election. She previously finished second in the primary in 2022.
Where they stand
By the numbers:
Cooke has a more moderate platform focused on improving the Affordable Care Act and improving rural access to healthcare, combating price gouging on gas prices and the grocery store, and increasing funding for education.
What they're saying:
In response to Rebecca Cooke’s victory, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement: "Rebecca Cooke is a small business owner and leader who knows how to bring people together to take on tough challenges. As someone who grew up on her family’s Eau Claire dairy farm, she is a fierce advocate for rural communities and understands what’s needed to bring down costs and make life more affordable for her neighbors. In Congress, Rebecca will fight tirelessly to protect healthcare, lower gas and fertilizer prices, end Republicans’ reckless tariffs, stand up for working families, and invest in Wisconsin’s farmers, producers, and manufacturers. The DNC is ready to help her win this seat, flip the House, and deliver commonsense solutions for Wisconsin's 3rd District."
What's next:
Both Cooke and Van Orden will now face each other in a general election held on Nov. 3.
Local perspective:
Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District covers 19 counties in western and southwestern Wisconsin, including Eau Claire, La Crosse, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids.
The Source: Information in this article comes from The Associated Press' election results and FOX 9 reporting.