Rebecca Cooke has secured the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, defeating Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge in a primary election held on Tuesday. The Associated Press reported that Cooke led with 57% of the vote, while Berge received 43%, with 62% of ballots counted at the time of the report.
Cooke, a nonprofit executive and small-business owner, received endorsements from Senator Bernie Sanders and support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Blue Dogs. In contrast, Berge was backed by local chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America and Indivisible, but her campaign did not succeed.
Cooke raised $8.6 million for her campaign, significantly more than Berge’s $729,000. This victory positions Cooke for a general election against incumbent Rep. Derrick Van Orden, who previously won the seat in 2024 by a narrow margin. The Cook Political Report has classified Van Orden's seat as a toss-up for the upcoming election.
Van Orden, who ran unopposed in the GOP primary, has raised approximately $7.5 million for his campaign. His campaign has raised concerns about Cooke's financial disclosures, suggesting that voters should question the timing of her financial records ahead of the election.