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Democrat Rebecca Cooke defeats GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden in key congressional race
WPR • • nation
Key Points:
- Democrat Rebecca Cooke defeated Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin’s closely watched 3rd Congressional District race, with Van Orden conceding late Tuesday night.
- Cooke emphasized affordability, support for farmers, and lowering gas prices as key priorities in her victory speech, promising help for those struggling with rent, medical debt, and farm sales.
- Van Orden urged his supporters to accept the election result and expressed good wishes for Cooke’s future in Congress, highlighting unity despite the partisan contest.
- The race drew significant attention and funding from both parties, including $4.6 million from GOP megadonor Elon Musk to support Van Orden, but Cooke’s campaign gained momentum with strong fundraising and endorsements from both progressive and moderate Democrats.
- The Cook Political Report shifted the race rating from “Toss Up” to “Lean Democrat” ahead of the election, reflecting Cooke’s growing advantage amid challenges Republicans faced due to issues like the war in Iran.
