Skip to the content
Liberty Politics
← Wisconsin on November 3

Wisconsin 3rd District

Derrick Van Orden (R) holds this seat and is running again. 4 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.

Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
  • Derrick Van Orden

    Republican · holds this seat today

    A
    Liberty Score A

    On the liberty side in 95 of 100 votes and bills.

    Raised $9,101,596 since January 2025: 58% from people, 28% transfers and other income, 14% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov

  • Rebecca Cooke

    Democrat · small business owner, two-time House candidate

    No grade
    No grade yet

    I have no votes in Congress to count for Cooke, and what Cooke has said and done settles only 3 of my principles. I went through it on October 30. A grade needs 4.

    Raised $12,675,997 since January 2025: 86% from people, 7% transfers and other income, 6% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov

Voting in Wisconsin: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.

Side by side

A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.

Confronts tyranny and terror
A
Van Orden19 of 19 votes with liberty
?
CookeNot clear either way, from 2 sources
Stands with free nations and free peoples
B-
Van Orden23 of 28 votes with liberty
D
CookeMostly with liberty, from 3 sources
Free speech and a free mind
A
Van Orden2 of 2 votes with liberty
–
CookeNothing on record
Free markets and free trade
A
Van Orden13 of 13 votes with liberty
F
CookeMostly against liberty, from 3 sources
One law, equal for every individual
A
Van Orden12 of 12 votes with liberty
–
CookeNothing on record
Freedom of conscience
A
Van Orden2 of 2 votes with liberty
–
CookeNothing on record
Strong enough to stay free
A
Van Orden3 of 3 votes with liberty
–
CookeNothing on record
Citizenship and the rule of law
A
Van Orden21 of 21 votes with liberty
A
CookeWith liberty, from 2 sources

Rebecca Cooke, on the record

I have no votes in Congress to count for Cooke, so the grade above comes from this list: what Cooke has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.

  • October 2026 · Her campaign siteTyranny

    Calls for ending the Iran war because of its cost to taxpayers and fuel prices.

    “end the costly iran war, which is costing taxpayers $2 billion per day and driving gas and diesel prices through the roof.”
    By the test I use for votes
    Not clear either way

    'End the war' with no policy, bill or vote named is unclear for anyone.

  • October 20, 2026 · DebateTyranny

    In the October 2026 debate she called for a war powers resolution so that Congress decides when the country goes to war.

    “We’ve got to have a war powers resolution and make sure that Congress is deciding when we go to war”
    By the test I use for votes
    Not clear either way

    A war powers limit on the Iran war would be on the against side, but the quoted words do not themselves name Iran, so it does not settle.

  • October 2025 · StatementFree nations

    Said at a campaign event that the US should not send more military aid to the Netanyahu government.

    “I don't think that we should send more military aid to the Netanyahu government invasion.”
    By the test I use for votes
    Against liberty

    Cutting off military aid to Israel is against liberty on free nations.

  • October 2025 · StatementFree nations

    Told Jewish Insider she strongly supports Israel's right to defend itself.

    “My record is clear, I strongly support Israel's right to defend itself”
    By the test I use for votes
    With liberty

    Backing Israel's right to defend itself is with liberty on free nations.

  • October 22, 2026 · DebateFree nations

    At the 3rd District candidate forum she said the US should keep standing up to Putin and keep a strong presence in Ukraine.

    “I do think it’s important that we continue to stand up to bullies like President Putin”
    By the test I use for votes
    With liberty

    Standing up to Putin and keeping a presence in Ukraine is with liberty on free nations.

  • October 2026 · Her campaign siteFree markets

    Calls for ending the use of tariffs.

    “end the use of tariffs that have created trade tensions globally and cut off agricultural marketplaces.”
    By the test I use for votes
    With liberty

    Opposing broad tariffs is with liberty on free markets.

  • October 2026 · Her campaign siteFree markets

    Says she will scrap the Social Security cap so higher earners pay more.

    “scrap the cap on social security so that higher earners are paying their fair share and keeping the program solvent for all of us.”
    By the test I use for votes
    Against liberty

    A higher tax on high earners is against liberty on free markets.

  • October 2026 · Her campaign siteFree markets

    Says she will cap out-of-pocket costs on essential drugs at $30 a month.

    “cap out-of-pocket costs on essential drugs like insulin, asthma inhalers, and cancer medications at $30/month.”
    By the test I use for votes
    Against liberty

    A price cap set by law is against liberty on free markets.

  • October 2026 · Her campaign siteBorders

    Lists funding law enforcement and protecting the borders among her priorities.

    “fully fund law enforcement to keep our communities safe and protect our borders.”
    By the test I use for votes
    With liberty

    Securing the border is with liberty on borders.

  • October 22, 2026 · DebateBorders

    At the same forum she said she does not support sanctuary cities.

    “I do not support sanctuary cities.”
    By the test I use for votes
    With liberty

    Opposing sanctuary policies is with liberty on borders.

Also on the ballot

Alexander Kent (Independent), Rustin Provance (Independent).

Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.

Who should win this race, and why?

Say it where other readers can answer you. Opinions, videos and corrections about this race are all in one place.

← The race

Discussion

Wisconsin 3rd District

All discussions, from every page →

Opinions, videos, corrections and bug reports about this race, all in one place. What readers post is their words, not mine. My answers carry the Host tag.

What kind of post is it?

Posting takes a free account. What you wrote is kept while you make one.

Leave out anything private about anyone. The rules, what your account keeps, and what readers have changed so far

Know this race better than I do?

Argue it with the hosts on a call. The community meets every day, and members help decide what goes on these pages.

Live on YouTube5 live shows a day, from 11am U.S. Eastern