A federal campaign finance filing for Van Orden was submitted Friday, Nov. 6, according to records with the Federal Election Commission. The move came three days after Cooke defeated him by a margin of roughly 20,000 votes on Tuesday, Nov. 3, returning the western Wisconsin district to Democratic hands.

Van Orden first won the seat in 2022, flipping a district Democrats had held for nearly three decades. His single term made him one of the more prominent and combative Republican voices in the Wisconsin delegation. Cooke's victory last week marked the second partisan flip of the district in as many election cycles, underscoring its status as one of the state's most competitive battlegrounds.

Cooke, in a statement, said her immediate focus is on the transition rather than the next campaign. She said she is working to ensure a smooth handoff with the outgoing congressman's office, standing up her own office, and "getting down to delivering for Wisconsinites."

"I appreciate the Congressman's pledge to work together and ensure that no constituent of ours falls through the cracks while so many are hanging on by a thread," Cooke said.

Van Orden did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his 2028 filing.

Filing for a race two years out is unusual but not unheard of, and it allows a candidate to begin raising and spending money under federal rules. For Van Orden, the early paperwork signals he intends to remain a force in the district rather than step away after a single loss — setting up the possibility of a 2028 rematch with Cooke, who has not yet said whether she will seek a second term.

The 3rd District stretches across western and southwestern Wisconsin, including La Crosse, Eau Claire and the Wisconsin River valley. Its swing-voter profile has made it a frequent target for both national parties, and the 2028 contest is already drawing attention as a potential bellwether for the region.