EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. – A new poll shows Rebecca Cooke leading Rep. Derrick Van Orden 49-48 in a race that could decide control of the House of Representatives.
The poll shows Rebecca with a 39-32 favorable rating (+7) while Van Orden’s favorability is underwater at 43-50 (-7), including 39-52 (-13) with Independents. Rebecca leads among Independents by four percent and she is winning more Republicans (five percent) than Van Orden is winning Democrats (one percent). Three percent of voters were undecided.
“Rebecca is building a broad coalition of support with working people across the district and from all walks of life to give western Wisconsin the new leadership it deserves,” said Alex Obolensky, Cooke Campaign Senior Advisor. “She’s lived the failed policies of Washington and voters know she’s going to fight like hell for her community. Voters are fed up with Derrick Van Orden after he voted to cut health care to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-rich and championed the tariffs raising prices on everyday goods.”
Rebecca was named to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s 2026 “Red to Blue” Program, highlighting candidates most likely to flip a Republican-held seat. In her previous run against Van Orden, Rebecca outperformed the Harris-Walz ticket by more than 9,000 votes.
Rebecca is also endorsed by Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin, 16 Members of Congress, State Senator Brad Pfaff, AFSCME, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Councils 7 & 82, Office and Professional Employees International Union, Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART) Union, UFCW Local 1473, Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council, IBEW State Conference, NRDC Action Fund, League of Conservation Voters, American Association for Justice (AAJ), End Citizens United, the Blue Dog Coalition, the New Dem Action Fund, Elect Democratic Women, EMILY’s List, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare PAC. She’s garnered the support of a broad coalition of farmers, small business owners, educators and healthcare workers across western Wisconsin. View the full list of endorsers here.
