Cooke Wins Wisconsin 3rd District Democratic Primary

Rebecca Cooke, a former small business owner and waitress, secured the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday night, setting up a closely watched rematch with Republican Representative Derrick Van Orden in November. The victory in the August 11 primary positions Cooke for her third bid to win the western Wisconsin seat, which national strategists view as a prime opportunity for Democrats in their effort to take back control of the U.S. House.

The Associated Press called the race for Cooke at 10:21 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday. With 62 percent of ballots counted at that point, Cooke led with 57 percent of the vote compared to 43 percent for her opponent, Emily Berge, the former president of the Eau Claire City Council. While initial polling had suggested a wider margin, the race was closer than some early expectations. Berge, a mental health counselor, ran to Cooke's left, emphasizing a grassroots campaign and earning support from local progressive groups. However, she was significantly outmatched in fundraising, as Cooke raised approximately $8.6 million compared to Berge's $729,000.

Cooke, who grew up on a dairy farm near Eau Claire, has...