The hourlong debate, hosted by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce and WEAU 13 News, came as early voting began statewide. Election forecaster Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifted its assessment of the race from a toss-up to leaning Democratic on Tuesday.

Van Orden, a Republican seeking a third term, defended President Donald Trump’s agenda, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, tariffs and military action in Iran. Cooke, a Democrat who is making her second run against him, argued that the administration’s policies are making life harder for working families, farmers and retirees, while emphasizing her disagreements with parts of her party’s platform.

The debate was Van Orden’s first since his initial run for Congress in 2020. He lost that race to former U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, then declined to debate in his successful campaigns against state Sen. Brad Pfaff in 2022 and Cooke in 2024.

Wisconsin’s 3rd District spans the Driftless Region from the state’s southwest corner to Eau Claire, with an extension into central Wisconsin and Stevens Point. The seat has drawn extensive campaign and outside-group spending, amid increasingly negative attacks from both parties.

On the economy, Van Orden said current financial pressures began under President Joe Biden and promoted tax cuts in Trump’s signature legislation. Cooke countered that the law’s permanent tax reductions primarily benefit wealthy Americans, while provisions for tips and overtime are temporary. She also blamed tariffs and the Iran war for adding pressure on households and businesses.

Cooke said she wants people to be able to afford health care, housing and groceries while ensuring public schools have sufficient funding. Van Orden said the tax legislation supports working people and argued that he has helped secure federal money for Wisconsin health providers.

Health care was a point of sharp disagreement. Cooke said federal funding Van Orden cites would not make up for Medicaid cuts in the law, and pointed to hospital and maternity-care closures in the Chippewa Valley and nearby Menomonie. Van Orden criticized the Affordable Care Act, which Democrats passed in 2010, and said he had worked to protect local providers.

On immigration, Van Orden highlighted a violent 2024 attack in Prairie du Chien and backed his proposal to create a route for some undocumented farmworkers to obtain legal status by leaving the country, paying a fine and waiting for a visa. Cooke said the border should be secure but argued for a path to citizenship for immigrant workers without criminal records, citing their importance to manufacturing and dairy farming in west-central Wisconsin. She said she supports some visa reforms Van Orden has pursued.

The candidates also disputed the effects of Trump’s tariffs. Van Orden described tariffs as a tool for fair trade and said they could benefit farmers. Cooke, who said she grew up on a dairy farm, said farmers she has spoken with oppose the tariffs and do not want federal aid to compensate for their effects.

On Iran, Van Orden defended the military campaign and argued the United States must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Cooke called for diplomacy and said Congress should focus more on needs at home, including hospitals, schools and small businesses. She said voters had not supported another foreign war.

Both candidates opposed a proposed regional transmission line, but differed on energy policy. Van Orden backed natural gas, nuclear power and what he called cleaner coal, while criticizing Democratic opposition to fossil fuels. Cooke supported a mix of renewables and other sources, including nuclear energy, to maintain grid reliability.

They also outlined different higher-education priorities. Cooke called for increased Pell Grant support and work-study programs. Van Orden favored investment in trades and STEM education and proposed interest-free federal student loans.

After the debate, Cooke said she was hearing from working families and retirees who were “really hanging on by a thread.” Van Orden and Cooke each claimed victory after the event. The district’s voters will choose between them on Election Day, Nov. 3.