Rebecca Cooke, a Democrat, nonprofit founder and former political consultant from Eau Claire, faces Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden for Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district in 2026, a rematch of their 2024 race.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
Live TruthIndex™ and prediction market consensus for races contested by Rebecca Cooke.
- Born
- December 21, 1987
- Birthplace
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- Education
- North High School
University of St. Thomas (Bachelor of Arts)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Rebecca Cooke was born on December 21, 1987, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the youngest of three children in a dairy farming family, and she is a descendant of abolitionist Chauncey Cooke. As a child she took part in 4-H youth programs and was president of her local 4-H club. She began waitressing at 16 while attending North High School, and after graduating she earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of St. Thomas. She lives on Tainter Lake in Colfax, Wisconsin.
Career
After college, Cooke worked as a fundraiser for national campaigns, serving from 2012 to 2014 as finance director for four congressional campaigns in four U.S. states.
In 2014 she moved back to Eau Claire, opened a home goods store, Red's Mercantile, and began working as a political consultant, and her firm advised eight political campaigns between 2015 and 2021. She founded a nonprofit in 2016 to support female business owners with grants.
Governor Tony Evers appointed her to the board of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation in 2019, where she co-chaired the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Committee and later served as board secretary until her resignation in November 2021.
Cooke first ran for the 3rd district in 2022, finishing second in the Democratic primary to state senator Brad Pfaff. She ran again in 2024 as a moderate Democrat while continuing to work three nights a week as a waitress, and Derrick Van Orden defeated her in the general election by less than three points. She identifies as a centrist and has said she plans to caucus with the Blue Dogs if elected.
2026 race
Rebecca Cooke is the Democratic nominee in Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district, which takes in the Driftless Area in southwestern Wisconsin, including Eau Claire and La Crosse. The incumbent is Republican Derrick Van Orden, who was reelected with 51.4% of the vote in 2024.
Cooke won the August 11 Democratic primary over Emily Berge, a former president of the Eau Claire city council, after confirming that this would be her last campaign for the seat. She faces Van Orden in the general election on November 3, 2026.