Politics
Van Orden Files for 2028 Rematch in Wisconsin's 3rd District After Losing to Cooke
Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden has filed to run for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District in 2028, just days after losing his seat to Democrat Rebecca Cooke by nearly 20,000 votes.
LA CROSSE, Wis. â Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden has filed to run for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District in 2028, according to Federal Election Commission records, launching an early bid to reclaim the seat he lost in Tuesday's midterm election.
Van Orden, who has represented the district since 2023, filed the paperwork on Friday. He lost Tuesday's race to Democrat Rebecca Cooke by a margin of nearly 20,000 votes.
The 3rd District, which stretches across western and central Wisconsin and includes La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Stevens Point, is one of the state's most competitive swing districts. Van Orden's defeat was part of a broader midterm election that saw Democrats make gains in several battleground races across the country.
By filing for 2028 just days after the election, Van Orden is signaling an unusually early start to his comeback attempt. The move allows him to begin fundraising and organizing well ahead of the next cycle, though it also underscores the scale of his loss to Cooke, a Democrat who campaigned heavily on protecting abortion rights, lowering costs for working families, and investing in rural health care.
Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL and outspoken ally of former President Donald Trump, had been a polarizing figure in the district. His tenure was marked by frequent controversies, including a censure vote in 2023 over his conduct during a Capitol tour, and he faced repeated criticism from constituents over his rhetoric and votes on issues ranging from climate policy to veterans' benefits.
Cooke's victory was powered by strong turnout in the district's urban and suburban areas, as well as a significant swing among independent voters in rural counties. Her campaign emphasized local concerns such as farm support, affordable housing, and clean water infrastructure.
The 2028 election is still nearly two years away, but Van Orden's early filing suggests he intends to remain a visible presence in Wisconsin politics. Whether he can win back the seat will depend on whether he can rebuild support in a district that has grown increasingly skeptical of his brand of politics.
For now, the filing is a formal declaration that the former congressman is not stepping away from public life â and that the battle for Wisconsin's 3rd District is far from over.