Democratic primary voters in Wisconsin selected their nominees for two key U.S. House races on Tuesday, setting up competitive general election matchups in November.
Mitchell Berman, an emergency room nurse, won the Democratic nomination in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District, defeating two opponents to challenge Republican incumbent Bryan Steil. Berman secured 42% of the vote with 63% of ballots counted, according to the Associated Press. His victory was called shortly after polls closed. Berman emphasized his background as a healthcare worker in a statement, stating he ran to address what he described as a corrupt political system prioritizing corporate interests over problem-solving.
Rebecca Cooke, a small-business owner and nonprofit founder, won the Democratic primary in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, advancing to a rematch against Republican Derrick Van Orden. Cooke, who grew up on a dairy farm near Eau Claire, defeated former Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge. This will be Cooke’s third attempt to unseat Van Orden, who defeated her by fewer than three percentage points in 2024. The race is widely viewed as one of Democrats’ top opportunities to flip a Republican-held seat in November.
Fundraising and Endorsements
Berman emerged as the best-funded Democrat in the 1st District primary, raising more than 25 times the combined total of his two opponents, according to Federal Election Commission data. He received endorsements from the United Auto Workers union and other labor groups. Despite his financial advantage, Steil holds a significant cash-on-hand lead, with $6.1 million compared to Berman’s lower reported total.
Cooke, meanwhile, secured the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), which designated her as a top-tier candidate in its “Red to Blue” program. She has raised nearly $8.6 million this cycle, slightly outpacing Van Orden’s $7.5 million. The race has attracted significant outside spending, with $9 million in reserved airtime by super PACs from both parties.
District Context and Historical Trends
The 1st District, represented by Steil since 2018, has not elected a Democrat in over 30 years. The district includes parts of southeastern Wisconsin and was previously held by former House Speaker Paul Ryan until his retirement. The University of Virginia’s Center for Politics rates the race as “likely Republican.”
The 3rd District, which spans western Wisconsin including Eau Claire, La Crosse, and Stevens Point, is considered a toss-up by the same rating system. Van Orden defeated Cooke in 2024 despite the district voting for Donald Trump by 7 percentage points in the presidential election. Cooke has sought to frame herself as a pragmatic Democrat focused on rural economic issues, health care, and affordability.
Primary Dynamics and Campaign Themes
In the 1st District, Berman’s victory followed the withdrawal of Milwaukee Alder Peter Burgelis, who endorsed Berman after his campaign finance report showed receipts totaling less than 10% of Berman’s. Lorenzo Santos, a former Racine County emergency services director, and Miguel Aranda, a Whitewater school board member, finished third and fourth, respectively.
In the 3rd District, Cooke’s campaign emphasized her working-class roots, including her upbringing on a dairy farm, her experience as a waitress, and her leadership of a nonprofit supporting women entrepreneurs. Berge, a mental health counselor, positioned herself as a local alternative to Cooke, criticizing the early DCCC endorsement of Cooke as limiting voter choice in the primary.
General Election Outlook
Both races are expected to attract significant attention and resources in the fall. The 3rd District rematch between Cooke and Van Orden is viewed as one of Democrats’ best chances to gain a House seat in Wisconsin, while the 1st District contest remains a longer shot but is still considered competitive by national Democrats.