Cooke unseats Van Orden, flips Wisconsin seat

Democrat Rebecca Cooke defeated Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden to flip Wisconsin’s closely watched 3rd Congressional District, which had been held by Republicans since 2022. Van Orden conceded Tuesday night as Cooke held a lead with about 70% of the vote counted. Cooke, a former small-business owner and waitress who previously ran against Van Orden, campaigned on affordability and her ties to the district’s working-class and agricultural communities. The race drew heavy national attention and spending from both parties, with Cooke gaining momentum in the closing weeks.