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District voter guide · 2026

Wisconsin Congressional District 3: 2026 Voter Guide

Wisconsin Congressional District 3 elects one member of the U.S. House of Representatives. On November 3, 2026, the candidates are Derrick Van Orden (Republican), Rebecca Cooke (Democratic), Alexander Valiensi Kent (Independent) and Rustin Provance (Independent).

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Candidates

Photo of Derrick Van Orden

Derrick Van Orden

Republican Incumbent

Derrick Van Orden of Prairie du Chien is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL who served 26 years in the Navy. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 2022, flipping Wisconsin's 3rd District after the retirement of long-serving…

Economy and affordability

Says he supported the Working Families Tax Cuts, which he says put more money back in the pockets of working families, seniors, and small businesses (per Ballotpedia News, August 21, 2026).

Taxes

Promoted the Republican tax agenda at the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas in September 2026 (per Election Central, September 2026).

Health care

Has defended the Republican approach to health care, arguing that broader economic growth and changes in federal policy offer a better path (per Election Central, September 2026).

Trump alignment

One of President Trump's more vocal allies in Congress; Trump has endorsed him, and he has made the Trump record part of his case for a third term (per Election Central, September 2026).

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Photo of Rebecca Cooke

Rebecca Cooke

Democratic

Rebecca Cooke of Eau Claire is a small-business owner, nonprofit owner, and waitress who ran for Wisconsin's 3rd District in 2022 and 2024, losing the 2024 general election to Derrick Van Orden by about 11,186 votes.…

Affordability

Focused on tackling the affordability crisis with better wages, more economic opportunities, and lower taxes for working families; opposes corporate price-gouging (per Ballotpedia Candidate Connection via Ballotpedia News; Civic Media, August 5, 2026).

Health care

Has made health-care access and costs central to her campaign; supports a public option, ACA tax credits, and expanding Medicare to cover vision, dental, and hearing (per Election Central, September 2026; USA Today Network questionnaires, July-August 2026).

AI data centers

Called for a federal pause on new large-scale data-center projects until stronger rules are in place, citing electricity demand, land use, and local infrastructure (per Election Central, September 2026).

Minimum wage

Supports a $15 federal minimum wage (per USA Today Network questionnaires, July-August 2026).

Reproductive rights

Supports abortion rights (per USA Today Network questionnaires, July-August 2026).

Gun safety

Supports background checks and red-flag enforcement (per USA Today Network questionnaires, July-August 2026).

Agriculture

Supports farmland ownership restrictions and opposes tariffs that harm farms (per USA Today Network questionnaires, July-August 2026).

Accountability

Has criticized Van Orden for not holding in-person town halls and says voters deserve accountability (per Ballotpedia News, August 21, 2026).

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AK

Alexander Valiensi Kent

Independent

Alexander Valiensi Kent, 35, of La Crosse is a social worker, philosopher, and entrepreneur. He earned a B.S. in social work from Viterbo University (2014) and a master's in social work from the University of Chicago…

Voter-directed democracy

Pledges to vote according to the verified will of constituents via online issue-by-issue voting on app.VoterDirectedNetwork.com, measuring success by how faithfully he serves voters' decisions (per Stevens Point Journal questionnaire, July 29, 2026).

Campaign finance

Will not accept donations from any donors, lobbyists, political parties, or special interests, ever (per Stevens Point Journal questionnaire, July 29, 2026).

Political reform

Campaign built on full voter empowerment, ending political corruption, and servant leadership; argues the party-controlled system responds to money instead of voters (per Stevens Point Journal questionnaire, July 29, 2026).

District issues

Names cost of living, health care, housing, agriculture, education, public safety, and government corruption as the top concerns he hears from voters (per Stevens Point Journal questionnaire, July 29, 2026).

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RP

Rustin Provance

Independent

Rustin Provance, 45, of Pepin is a certified nursing assistant, is HVAC-R certified, and is a former steel worker in St. Paul Park, Minnesota. He also ran for Wisconsin's 3rd District in 2024. He is on the November 3,…

Term limits

Pushes for congressional term limits and pledges to serve only one term himself (per Stevens Point Journal questionnaire, July 29, 2026).

Congressional pay and benefits

Pushes for little to no pay for members of Congress and removing congressional retirement benefits (per Stevens Point Journal questionnaire, July 29, 2026).

Monetary policy

Wants to return to the gold standard, create a new congressional agency to control the currency, do away with the Federal Reserve, and push for state banks like North Dakota's (per Stevens Point Journal questionnaire, July 29, 2026).

Balanced budgets

Pushes states to put balanced-budget clauses into their state constitutions (per Stevens Point Journal questionnaire, July 29, 2026).

Property rights

Wants to end eminent-domain laws so people are 'secure in their homes' (per Stevens Point Journal questionnaire, July 29, 2026).

Affordability

Names affordability in health, goods, and services as a top concern and says his goal is to give government back to the people (per Stevens Point Journal questionnaire, July 29, 2026).

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