SECOND-TIME MATCHUP, FIRST-TIME FORUM. Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District is considered a tossup, making it a closely-watched race from start to finish. The Nov. 3 election will be the second consecutive matchup between incumbent Derrick Van Orden, left, and Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke, right.

This November’s election will mark round two between U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) and Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke, the two major party candidates vying for Wisconsin’s closely-watched 3rd Congressional District seat.

Cooke has sought her hometown district’s seat three cycles in a row (the 2026 election being the third), facing incumbent Van Orden, who was voted into Congress in 2023. The first time the duo came head-to-head, in 2024, Cooke came less than three points shy of securing the 3rd District seat.

On Oct. 1, WEAU News 13, the local NBC affiliate, announced it would host a 3rd District candidate forum in partnership with the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce later this month.

It will be a first for Van Orden and Cooke who, despite having faced each other once before, have never participated in a forum or debate with one another.

The announcement comes just days after counsel from the Elias Law Group sent Van Orden a cease-and-desist on behalf of Cooke’s campaign, accusing Van Orden of defaming Cooke through AI-generated videos, or “deepfake imagery,” shared online.

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OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANce TO (THE EAU CLAIRE AREA CHAMBER) IS ENSURING THE FORUM IS CARRIED OUT IN A FAIR AND UNBIASED MANNER.

ERICA BODDEN

DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY, EAU CLAIRE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

According to a media release from the Eau Claire Chamber, the nonpartisan forum – slated for 11am-12pm on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Chippewa Valley Technical College Energy Education Center (4000 Campus Rd., Eau Claire) – will focus on “issues affecting businesses, employers, and communities across western Wisconsin.”

More specifically, topics will include affordability and the economy, taxes and federal spending, trade, healthcare, energy and others, the media release states.

“Of the utmost importance to (the Eau Claire Area Chamber) is ensuring the forum is carried out in a fair and unbiased manner,” Director of Advocacy Erica Bodden told Volume One. “Throughout the entire planning process, we've received respectful communication from both campaigns and look forward to a thoughtful, policy-focused discussion.”

The forum will be moderated by two WEAU staffers, Political Analyst John Frank and Kim Leadholm, an anchor and reporter.

The event will be live-streamed on channel 13 and WEAU.com for anyone to view, while in-person attendance is limited and requires pre-registration. 

The first forum between 3rd Congressional District candidates, incumbent Derrick Van Orden and challenger Rebecca Cooke, will be held 11am-12pm on Oct. 20 at the CVTC Energy Education Center and will be livestreamed • Learn more about Van Orden and Cooke through their respective campaign sites