Cooke unseats incumbent Van Orden in Wisconsin House rematch

Democratic candidate Rebecca Cooke, a political fundraiser and server, is projected to beat Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) in a rematch for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ.

The two last faced off for the battleground House seat in central and western Wisconsin in 2024. The seat was considered vulnerable in this year’s midterm elections. Cooke has clinched about 52 percent of the vote with 100 percent of the vote reported early Wednesday. Van Orden receieed nearly 46 percent.

President Trump won the district in 2024 by more than 7 points, though Van Orden won his seat by about 3 points that same year.

Cooke was added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” program in February, which offered organizational and fundraising support.

It was a contentious race, as Van Orden aired an AI deepfake campaign advertisement of his opponent. Cooke sent him a cease-and-desist letter in response, which she also shared on social media.

Cooke’s lawyer wrote the videos “undermine our democratic process” and said it was “the exact kind of mudslinging voters are tired of.”

Van Orden responded with another AI-generated deepfake video of his opponent as a red bird with a Democratic Socialists of America shirt.

Cooke focused on tying the incumbent to Trump, whose approval rating slumped leading up to Election Day. In campaign messaging , she focused on the rising diesel and fertilizer prices, increased healthcare costs and affordability.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) stumped for Cooke leading up to the election, emphasizing her working-class message.

“Electing Rebecca, you will have somebody who I think in this campaign is the only working waitress to be elected in the U.S.A.,” Sanders said.

Cook Political Report initially classified the race as a “toss-up” but shifted it to “lean Democrat” in late October.