Overview

• Sen. Bernie Sanders praised Cooke’s rural Wisconsin roots and pledged to partner with her on antitrust enforcement, a living wage and Medicare expansion.
• Cooke lost to Rep. Derrick Van Orden by less than three points in 2024 before announcing a rematch in 2026.
• The Cook Political Report rates Wisconsin’s 3rd District as a toss-up, reflecting its battleground status after Trump carried it by seven points in last year’s election.
• Cooke has drawn support across the Democratic spectrum, earning endorsements from Sanders and the Blue Dog Democrats’ PAC.
• Democrats need a net gain of at least three seats to reclaim the House majority, making Wisconsin’s 3rd a critical target for 2026.