2026 Wisconsin (WI-03) US House Voters Guide

Rebecca Cooke (D) vs Derrick Van Orden (R)

House of Representatives | Election | Nov 3, 2026

The Candidates

Rebecca Cooke

Rebecca Cooke

Democrat

Derrick Van Orden

Derrick Van Orden

Republican

Incumbent

The Issues

Abortion

Ban or legal?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

Legal. “I am committed to protecting abortion access for millions of women across our nation.” Would codify “Roe v. Wade into law.” Would ensure that “Planned Parenthood locations nationwide remain federally supported.” Opposes the Hyde Amendment, which restricts Medicaid and Medicare from covering abortion services.

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Mostly ban. “I am unreservedly, unabashedly, and proudly pro life.” Would support a 15-week ban at the state level. Voted to introduce criminal penalties for healthcare practitioners who fail to provide the required degree of care for an infant who survives an attempted abortion. Voted for a bill that would prevent insurance plans that cover abortions from receiving subsidies.

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Climate Change

Should climate change be a top priority?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

Yes. “It’s time for [Wisconsin] to lead in the fight against climate change.” Would invest “in green energy projects that harness wind, solar and hydro energy.” Supports using “small modular nuclear” while reducing “the use of fossil fuels.”

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Mostly no. Voted to repeal clean energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. Voted to end Biden-era clean energy tax credits. Proposed an amendment to keep tax credits for “carbon dioxide sequestration…and biofuels like ethanol.”

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Criminal Justice

How to ensure effectiveness and fairness in law enforcement?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

“We need to ensure that our law enforcement agencies receive the resources and funding they need to do their jobs.” Would fund mental health services and expand treatment courts to address repeat offenders. “I’m a strong supporter of law enforcement. I’ll always put the safety of our communities first.”

Derrick Van Orden (R)

“Soft-on-crime policies are making Americans less safe.” Would ensure “officers have the tools and resources…to keep our communities safe.” Called for more funding for police and “mental health and addiction treatment.” Supports qualified immunity for police officers.

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Economy

Cut or increase government investment in, and regulation of, the economy?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

Mixed. Would “stop wasteful spending.” Gov’t. should “live within its means.” Would expand block grants for affordable housing. To help small businesses, would “work to cut red tape [and] enforce antitrust law.” Supports federal funding to “jumpstart our dairy industry.” Supports the right to repair one’s own equipment.

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Mostly decrease. Voted to decrease government spending. Introduced a bill to give $16 million more per year to dairy businesses. Voted to loosen regulation of the crypto industry. Says “getting rid of…regulations” is “really fantastic for the businesses.

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Education

Use public funding for private and/or for-profit schools?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

No. “One of my top priorities is to end voucher schools.” Calls for “invest[ing] more in public education.”

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Yes. Voted for a bill giving federal tax credits for donations to private school scholarships. Signed a letter urging the Governor to opt Wisconsin into the federal voucher program in the bill.

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Environment

Loosen or tighten environmental regulations?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

Tighten. Would “regulate our biggest corporate polluters.” Would “rapidly address the PFAS issue in our water” and “address issues with run-off.” Calls for “federal funding” and “more research, testing, and remediation” for “access to clean drinking water.” “I want to protect Western Wisconsin’s natural resources and ensure the next generation has clean air and clean water.”

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Mostly loosen. Voted to give mining companies more access to federal lands. Voted to undo expansion of the streams and wetlands protected by the Clean Water Act. Voted to undo controls on companies emitting seven major hazardous pollutants. Introduced a bill authorizing $350 million to replace PFAS foams at airports for “environmental stewardship.”

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Gun Laws

Loosen or tighten gun laws?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

Tighten. Supports “common-sense gun reforms, such as universal background checks and red flag laws.” Calls for “people to be responsible gun owners, to lawfully obtain and securely store firearms.”

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Loosen. “I will always champion our Second Amendment rights.” Voted to block regulation on pistols with stabilizing braces. Sponsored a bill to allow concealed carry of guns across state lines. Was “thankful for the NRA’s support.”

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Health Care

Increase or decrease government support for health care?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

Increase. “Healthcare is a human right – and the biggest issue that we need to tackle as a nation.” Would “expand Medicare to cover vision, dental and hearing.” Supports a “public option” that allows Medicare buy-in. Would “cap out-of-pocket costs on essential drugs.” Would “improve the Affordable Care Act” with “more tax credits to lower premiums.”

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Mixed. “Obamacare is a broken system.” Voted to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies for 3 years; called it “a bridging mechanism.” In 2025 voted for a bill that cut Medicaid. In 2026 supported federal Medicaid funding for Wisconsin. Voted for a bill to expand health care choices and fund Cost Sharing Reduction payments, which can lower costs in the ACA marketplace.

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Immigration

How to handle immigration?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

Supports the Dignity Act which would fund border security and enforcement, mandate E-Verify, end catch-and-release, and offer a path to permanent residency to Dreamers. Supports a “pathway to citizenship” for “folks that are contributing to our economies.” Says there has been “a tremendous overreach of ICE.”

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Voted to build 900 miles of border wall, limit asylum, and require E-Verify for new employees. Introduced a bill to give a temporary legal status to certain agricultural workers “without granting amnesty or citizenship.” Voted to increase ICE funding by $75 billion, then for $70 billion more for DHS. “Without borders, we are…not a nation.”

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Iran

Support the war in Iran?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

No. “Nobody voted for the war in Iran…I’d like to see us pull out of our presence there.” “No president can unilaterally declare war.”

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Yes. “It’s about time this happened.” Voted five times against requiring Congressional authorization for military action in Iran.

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Labor

Make it easier or harder for unions to organize?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

Easier. “I’ll always have the backs of our union workers.” Would “work to pass the PRO Act,” to expand and protect employees’ organizing and collective bargaining rights.

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Mixed. Voted to restore federal employees’ collective bargaining rights. Called the PRO Act “a train-wreck of a bill.” Said it gives “employees’ private info to unions without their permission.”

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LGBTQ Rights

Limit or expand LGBTQ rights?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

Expand. Supports a bill to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In June, said she opposed a federal conversion therapy ban. In July said she “misspoke” in June: “I do not support conversion therapy whatsoever.” “I support our LGBTQ neighbors.”

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Mixed. Voted to ban Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care for minors. Voted to ban transgender students from women’s and girls’ school sports. In 2021, said “I unequivocally support equal rights for all Americans,” including “members of the LGBTQ+ community.”

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Minimum Wage

Raise the federal minimum from $7.25 per hour?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

Yes. Would increase “the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.”

Derrick Van Orden (R)

No position found.

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Taxes

Raise or lower taxes on corporations and wealthier individuals?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

Raise. “The [2017] Trump tax cuts, when fully implemented, give 83% of the benefits to the top 1%. I support middle class tax relief and ensuring the 1% pay their fair share.” Says “giant corporations get massive tax BREAKS. What we need…[is] fair taxes.”

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Lower. Voted to extend the 2017 Trump tax cuts, which included a tax break for the very wealthy and the largest one-time cut in the corporate tax rate. Sponsored a bill to repeal the federal estate tax. Would “work tirelessly to stop…tax hikes.”

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Voting Rules

Make voting harder or easier?

Rebecca Cooke (D)

Easier. Opposes voter ID. Supports a bill that expands voter registration and voting access. Supports early voting and mail ballots. “We want to make it easier for folks to…participate in our democracy.” Supports a bill that requires certain states to get preapproval for changes in voting practices.

Derrick Van Orden (R)

Harder. Sponsored a bill to require voter ID, ban universal vote-by mail, limit delivering someone else’s mail-in ballot, ban ranked-choice voting in federal elections, and require receipt of mail ballots by Election Day. Voted to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in a federal election.

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