Bernie Sanders Campaigns for Rebecca Cooke in Eau Claire

The Vermont senator rallied support for the Democratic candidate in a key 3rd District race.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Elections

Bernie Sanders Campaigns for Rebecca Cooke in Eau Claire

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Senator Bernie Sanders rallied for Democratic congressional candidate Rebecca Cooke at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire this week. The visit highlights the intense competition for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, a seat seen as vital for both parties.

Why it matters

Democrats view the 3rd District as a primary opportunity to flip the House of Representatives, while Republicans are working to retain the seat and keep their current majority.

The district was held by Democrat Ron Kind for 26 years before Republican Derrick Van Orden flipped the seat in 2022. Van Orden subsequently won the seat against Rebecca Cooke in 2024.

The players

Bernie Sanders

He is the junior United States senator from Vermont and a former presidential candidate.

Rebecca Cooke

She is the Democratic candidate running for the 3rd Congressional District seat in Wisconsin.

Derrick Van Orden

He is the incumbent Republican representative for the 3rd Congressional District.

Mike Johnson

He is the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Donald Trump

He is the current President of the United States.

The details

Addressing an audience at a university ballroom, Rebecca Cooke positioned her candidacy to voters as a moderate Democrat. The district has seen significant national attention from both parties throughout the year, including visits from House Speaker Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

February 2026: JD Vance visited the 3rd Congressional District.
June 2026: Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited the district.
October 2026: Bernie Sanders campaigned for Rebecca Cooke.
November 2026: The congressional election takes place.

Political Context

Opposition leaders and Republican officials maintain that the district remains a stronghold for incumbent Derrick Van Orden. They argue that the influx of national surrogates is an attempt to overcome the local appeal of the Republican platform.

Residents in the district will participate in the November 2026 election, which will determine their representation in Congress. The outcome will decide the leadership for the district following the seat's recent shift between parties.

The takeaway

Voters in the 3rd District are seeing high-profile campaign visits from both parties as the election approaches. Citizens should research the policy platforms of both major candidates before casting their ballots in November.