Meet the Democratic candidates running for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional seat

Rebecca Cooke, Katrina Shankland and Eric Wilson will face off in the Aug. 13 partisan primary to represent the Democratic Party in the November general election for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District.

The winner of the primary will face Republican Derrick Van Orden, who has held the seat since 2022. Prior to Van Orden, Democrat Ron Kind was elected to 13 terms between 1997 and 2023.

Congressional district lines were redrawn in 2021 following a process that takes place following each decennial census in the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld these maps in March 2022 and they will likely remain in place through 2030.

U.S. Congresspeople serve two-year terms.

To learn more about registering to vote and to find your polling place, visit the My Vote Wisconsin website.

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin asked each of the candidates to address important issues in the district and why they are running for the position.

Rebecca Cooke

Residence: Eau Claire

Age: 36

Occupation and education: Small business owner and nonprofit leader; bachelor of arts degree from the University of St. Thomas.

Relevant experience: I was appointed by Gov. Tony Evers to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. I know the economic and social challenges facing the small towns and rural communities for which I’ve fiercely advocated for, from the kitchen table to the board room. I ran a small business in my community’s downtown for seven years − Red’s Mercantile − and through that, founded the Red Letter Grant, which awards start-up capital to women on the same path of entrepreneurship.

Campaign website/Facebook page: https://cookeforwisconsin.com/en/ and Cooke for Congress on Facebook

Katrina Shankland

Residence: Stevens Point

Age: 36

Occupation and education: Wisconsin state representative; bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and master's degree in community and organizational leadership from UW-Stevens Point

Relevant experience: Since my first election to the state Legislature in 2013, I have introduced, co-authored and passed 225 bipartisan bills into law. I’ll work with anyone to get things done for workers, farmers and families. I am the only candidate in the race who has won an election, held public office or passed a bill into law.

Campaign website/Facebook page: https://katrinashanklandforcongress.com and Katrina Shankland for Congress on Facebook

Eric Wilson

Residence: Eau Claire

Age: 30

Occupation and education: IT project manager; economics degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Relevant experience: I’ve worked in IT project management in both the health care and housing sectors.

Campaign website/Facebook page: wilsonforwi.com and Eric Wilson for Wisconsin on Facebook

Why are you running for office?

Cooke: Growing up, it was a struggle to make ends meet, a reality for so many Wisconsin farm families. But we always showed up for neighbors in need. Those core values of serving others and building community have guided my life, from my family’s kitchen table to the boardroom. Our rural communities are tired of Washington turning its back on us, and I’m ready to get to work because we need representation with the lived experience and drive to get results for our region.

Shankland: I’m a lifelong Wisconsinite raised by public school teachers. My parents taught me an important lesson: don’t complain unless you're going to do something about it. That’s exactly what I’ve done my entire career − deliver for Wisconsin. In the state Legislature, I’ve passed 225 bipartisan laws to lower health care and prescription drug costs, strengthen clean water laws, support farmers and working families, and so much more. I’m running for Congress to protect our democracy and expand our reproductive freedoms. I’ll fight extremism and work hard to get things done for the people of western and central Wisconsin − not special interests.

Wilson: I'm running to change health care. With a background as an IT project manager in health care and housing, I understand firsthand the complexities of our current system. The U.S. has the most expensive and least effective health care system compared with other developed nations. It’s time to catch up to every other modern nation that’s implemented a single-payer universal health care system − no networks, no premiums, no co-pays, no deductibles and no surprise bills. Medicare For All will expand Medicare coverage to include dental, hearing, mental health and substance abuse treatment, prescription drugs, long-term and disability care, and reproductive, fertility and maternity care.

What makes you the better candidate in this race?

Cooke: I grew up on a dairy farm − showing cattle throughout this Congressional District. Like a lot of Wisconsin farmers, my family had to sell our cows. That was almost 20 years ago and the reality is that working families are still hurting − from dairy farmers to small business owners to factory workers. I am a working-class person. I run a small business and waitress at night, all while running for Congress. We don’t need more career politicians representing us, but everyday folks stepping off the sidelines to be a relentless fighter for our way of life.

Shankland: I’m the only candidate who has won an election, held public office or passed a bill. In Congress, I’ll be ready on day one. To get there, we’re building a winning coalition: the AFL-CIO, both teachers’ unions, 14 other unions, and 50+ elected officials across the 3rd. They know my winning track record. Experience matters. My track record delivering results is the best contrast against Derrick Van Orden, who hasn’t delivered anything but embarrassing national headlines. Head-to-head polling shows me as the only Democrat who can beat Van Orden. With your support in August, we will defeat him in November.

Wilson: As the only candidate advocating for Medicare for All, full student debt forgiveness, and unrestricted abortion access, I bring a unique perspective rooted in personal experience and professional expertise. My platform directly addresses the urgent needs of Wisconsinites, focusing on creating systemic changes that provide long-term benefits to our community. I’m addressing the concerns for ALL generations. Who we send to Congress matters, and I am not a candidate for more of the same. I am the candidate for change in this race.

What is the most pressing issue facing Wisconsin, and how would you address it?

Cooke: I strongly believe that health care is a human right. We can’t wait for a sweeping bill when people are struggling to have check-ups covered and to pay for monthly prescriptions. As a small business owner who relies on the exchange for my health care coverage, I know firsthand the limitations of our current system. So, we need to defend and improve the Affordable Care Act, expand Medicare coverage to include dental, vision and hearing, and take on Big Pharma to ensure that seniors can get the drugs they need at prices they can afford.

Shankland: This election year, our democracy and freedoms are on the line. In Congress, I will stand up to extremist election deniers to strengthen our voting rights and protect our democracy. I’ll also build on my 100% voting record for our reproductive freedoms. As a state lawmaker, I’ve introduced legislation to require insurers to cover 12 months of birth control at one time and coauthored bills to repeal Wisconsin’s 1849 criminal abortion ban, lower maternal mortality rates, and improve access to health care post-partum. I’ll use my experience to codify Roe v. Wade into law and strengthen access to contraception and IVF.

Wilson: As the only candidate advocating for Medicare for All, full student debt forgiveness and unrestricted abortion access. I bring a unique perspective rooted in personal experience and professional expertise. My platform directly addresses the urgent needs of Wisconsinites, focusing on creating systemic changes that provide long-term benefits to our community. I’m addressing the concerns for ALL generations.  Who we send to Congress matters, and I am not a candidate for more of the same. I am the candidate for change in this race.

What are residents telling you are their most important issues, and how would you address them?

Cooke: The number one issue I hear about from voters is the cost of living. It comes down to pocketbook issues. Everyday people are struggling to pay for everyday goods like gas, groceries, their rent. I understand what the people of this district need because I live it every day. We need representatives who aren’t going to line their pockets with big oil money, but take on corporations who are price gouging consumers. We need to expand access to housing that working families can actually afford, incentivize child care local startups, and fight for living wages that don’t strangle our local businesses.

Shankland: The message is clear: We need someone in Congress who will deliver for us and protect our democracy and freedoms. And we need to unseat Derrick Van Orden, who’s used his time in office to fight his constituents instead of fighting FOR us. Voters are overwhelmingly concerned about the future of our democracy – I’ll protect it against attacks from right-wing extremists and election deniers, including Van Orden. In Congress, I’ll fight to strengthen our voting rights, and work to pass a new law to crack down on insurrectionists who try to overturn elections and overthrow the will of the people.

Wilson: Across the district, residents express profound concern over access to affordable health care, the rising cost of housing, and the urgent threat of climate change. In response, I advocate for Medicare for All, push for increased federal investment in housing to alleviate rising costs, and propose aggressive environmental policies like the Green New Deal to combat climate change and promote sustainable practices that ensure the long-term viability of our natural resources. Additionally, gun violence is the number 1 killer of children in Wisconsin. We need common-sense gun reform while protecting people’s rights to responsible gun ownership.

Residents of central Wisconsin are seeing increasing costs in necessary and everyday expenses such as housing, child care, groceries, health care and transportation. If elected, what will you do to help residents who are struggling to make ends meet?

Cooke: The tipped minimum wage in Wisconsin is just $2.33 an hour. I waitress three nights a week while running for Congress seven days a week. I know the challenges working-class folks are facing firsthand as I work two to three jobs to make ends meet. That’s why in Congress, I will work to increase the federal minimum wage to at least $15 an hour, and as One Fair Wage across industries. When it comes to federal projects in my District, I support Davis-Bacon that ensures workers aren’t paid less than the local prevailing wage.

Shankland: Powerful corporations are driving up the costs of everything we buy and raking in record profits. In Congress, I’ll hold price-gouging corporations accountable and stand up to powerful special interests to break up monopolies, fight consolidation and lower costs for everyone. In Congress, I’ll fight to lower the cost of health care and stand up to Big Pharma to negotiate lower drug prices, just as I’ve passed bills as a lawmaker to reduce prescription drug and health care costs. I refuse to accept any corporate PAC money for my campaign. Instead, my campaign is powered by people and working families.

Wilson: The cost of living has increased significantly while workers’ wages have not. While CEO’s compensation soars, most workers’ wages aren’t even keeping up with the rising costs of everyday goods and affordable housing remains out of reach. We must secure a minimum wage of at least $15 that’s tied to inflation. Corporations need to be paying their fair share of taxes and begin paying fair wages.  We need to dissuade corporate greed, bring a more progressive tax structure, including a wealth tax for those with over $50 million. And our anti-trust laws must be enforced.

As costs have increased for individuals, so have the costs for our local units of government. Our local schools and technical colleges, municipalities and counties are limited in how much local tax levies can be raised. These limits were set decades ago and adjustments to them are rare and inadequate for matching increases in cost of living and inflation. If elected, what would you do in Congress to reduce the burden on local residents who have to consider levy limit referendums for school districts, public safety workers or large transportation projects so frequently in elections?

Cooke: I believe that one of the fundamental responsibilities of a member of Congress is to listen to local leaders and use the federal power of the purse to fund and enable important projects in their home districts. I would fight to ensure that we get our fair share of resources. Our rural communities face unique challenges, and it’s clear that Washington isn’t working for us. Derrick Van Orden has failed to resolve the PFAS pollution issue that has plagued our district and allocate adequate federal funding to address this issue.

Shankland: I strongly support reducing the over-reliance on property taxes. We need more support for public school funding, and we must increase shared revenue to municipalities so they don’t have to go to referendum to fund basic government services including police, fire and EMS. We owe it to our first responders and kids to do better. In Congress, I’ll advocate for stronger public education funding so homeowners aren’t burdened by high property taxes, and I’ll champion FEMA grants for emergency preparedness so communities can hire the first responders they need to meet national staffing ratios and protect our health and safety.

Wilson: In Congress, I will work to allocate federal funds more effectively to support essential local services like schools, public safety and infrastructure projects. Municipal, state and federal government can work together. By increasing federal contributions to these critical areas, we can relieve the pressure on local governments to raise funds through levies and help maintain essential services. This is also a local control issue. We need to empower local elected leaders. We should end unfunded mandates. I will advocate for modernizing the funding formulas to reflect current economic realities.

Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK - Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Meet the Democratic candidates running for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional seat