Max donors (so far) to Rebecca Cooke, Dem challenger in western Wisconsin

"Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) raised more than $4.3 million in 2025 for the 2026 election, according to mandatory filings with the Federal Elections Commission. But most of that cash has come from joint fundraising committees like Grow the Majority and Defend the Majority, national organizations that can accept hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors and give hundreds of thousands to candidates."

"By contrast, individual donors can only give a maximum of $3,500 to a candidate per federal election in the 2026 cycle. With a primary and a general election, that means one person can donate a maximum of $7,000 to a candidate for federal office. That is where Cooke, Van Orden's best-funded challenger, is getting most of her campaign funds so far."

"The campaign for the 3rd Congressional District in western Wisconsin is projected to be one of the more expensive in the country as Democrats try to flip this Republican-held House seat in their quest to retake the majority. Expect independent political groups like Super PACs to spend heavily in this race as the November election gets closer."

Rebecca Cooke, a Democrat from Eau Claire, narrowly lost to incumbent Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden in 2024 by less than three points and is running again in 2026. Van Orden raised over $4.3 million in 2025, primarily through joint fundraising committees like Grow the Majority and Defend the Majority, which can accept and distribute hundreds of thousands of dollars. Cooke raised slightly less than $4 million, relying mainly on individual donors who can contribute a maximum of $7,000 per federal election cycle. The race for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District is projected to be one of the nation's most expensive as Democrats attempt to flip this Republican-held seat. Independent political groups and Super PACs are expected to spend heavily as the November election approaches.

Read at The Badger Project