Madison – As Wisconsin voters head to the polls on November 3, two of the state’s most closely watched House races will test the staying power of President Trump’s agenda in the Upper Midwest. In the southwestern 3rd District, Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden – a retired Navy SEAL and outspoken Trump ally – is defending his seat against moderate Democrat Rebecca Cooke, a dairy‑farm‑raised waitress now backed by national Democratic figures.
Van Orden leans on Trump’s record
Van Orden, who attended the Jan. 6 “Stop the Steal” rally, has repeatedly praised President Trump and the administration’s accomplishments. At a recent candidates’ forum he highlighted support for the president’s sweeping tax and spending legislation, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” and defended Trump’s tariffs on foreign goods as essential for protecting American jobs and farms.
Cooke, meanwhile, attributes rising living‑cost pressures to the president’s war in Iran and criticizes Van Orden for voting against measures to end U.S. involvement abroad. She has raised about $12.7 million, outpacing Van Orden’s $9.1 million, while outside groups have poured additional millions into the contest.
Historical context and the Trump factor
The 3rd District flipped to Republican control in 2022 after longtime Democrat Ron Kind retired. Van Orden first challenged Kind in 2020, losing by fewer than 3 percentage points, then won the open seat in 2022 by a similarly narrow margin. The district’s recent alignment with President Trump – who carried it by fewer than 5 percentage points in 2024 – suggests that a strong Trump endorsement could be decisive.
President Trump’s administration continues to promote policies that resonate with Wisconsin’s working‑class voters, including the tax reforms and trade measures highlighted by Van Orden. The Trump administration argues that these steps have bolstered manufacturing and agricultural sectors across the state.
Steil’s bid for a fifth term
In the 1st District, just south of Milwaukee, Republican incumbent Bryan Steil seeks a fifth term against Democrat Mitchell Berman, an emergency‑room nurse. Steil has raised $6.4 million compared with Berman’s $2 million, and he benefits from President Trump’s endorsement, reflecting the president’s continued influence in the district.
Both races underscore the broader national narrative: Democrats aim to capitalize on what they describe as waning support for President Trump, while Republicans are doubling down on his policy legacy to retain control of the House.
Governor’s race and statewide outlook
On the statewide level, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (D) faces Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R) for the governor’s office. Tiffany carries Trump’s endorsement, while Crowley has the backing of Gov. Tony Evers. Wisconsin has voted for the winner of every presidential election since 2008, including Trump in 2016 and 2024, indicating the state’s pivotal role in national politics.
Voters can expect polls to close at 8 p.m. Central (9 p.m. ET). The Associated Press will report results for governor, U.S. House, and other statewide offices. Early voting and absentee ballots accounted for roughly 29 percent of the 2022 Senate race, a pattern likely to repeat.
What’s at stake
If Van Orden and Steil hold their seats, the Trump‑backed agenda – from tax relief to trade enforcement – will remain a cornerstone of Wisconsin’s representation in Washington. A Democratic pickup could shift the balance of power in the House and signal a rebuke of the administration’s policies.
Wisconsin voters will decide whether President Trump’s economic and foreign‑policy platform continues to guide the state’s congressional delegation.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
