In rural Wisconsin, politics is still about meeting voters. Online, it’s getting weird.

October 5, 2026

Democratic congressional candidate Rebecca Cooke is mounting a competitive rematch challenge against Republican incumbent Rep. Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, a rural swing seat that has trended Republican in recent years. Cooke, who narrowly lost to Van Orden by under three points in 2024, is campaigning on economic concerns, particularly high costs of living that voters blame on Trump administration policies including tariffs and gas price increases from the war in Iran.

Who is affected

Rebecca Cooke (Democratic congressional candidate)
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (Republican incumbent seeking third term)
Farmers and agricultural workers impacted by tariffs
Rural Wisconsin voters facing high gas, diesel, and living costs
Small business owners like Scott Cardinale affected by inflation and interest rates
Teenage library worker Van Orden confronted in 2021
Senate pages who experienced Van Orden's profane outburst in 2023
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York (criticized by Van Orden)
Wisconsin Muslim Alliance
Gubernatorial nominee David Crowley and running mate Sarah Godlewski
Bernie Sanders and Blue Dogs caucus (endorsing Cooke)

What action is being taken

Cooke is campaigning at community events like Oktoberfest and the Apple Festival, walking parade routes and knocking on doors
Van Orden is posting AI-generated deepfake imagery of Cooke on social media
The Wisconsin Democratic Party is issuing weekly "Whine Wednesday" news releases documenting Van Orden's X activity
Members of Trump's Cabinet are stumping for Van Orden in the district
Both parties are spending money on the race
Cooke's campaign lawyer sent Van Orden a cease-and-desist letter over AI deepfake videos

Why it matters

This race represents a critical test of whether Democrats can regain ground in rural Midwestern districts that shifted from Obama to Trump. The district is rated a tossup and could help determine control of the House of Representatives. The race also reflects broader national dynamics including economic anxiety over inflation and living costs, the impact of Trump administration trade and foreign policies on rural communities, and emerging issues around AI use in political campaigns. Cooke's ability to outperform Vice President Harris in 2024 suggests targeted rural outreach strategies may help Democrats compete in areas they've recently struggled, making this contest a potential model for the party's rural strategy.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The 19th