The world’s richest man has already written the incumbent a large check to try to aid his reelection to the 3rd Congressional District.

U.S. Rep. Derrick 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 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 Van Orden’s best-funded challenger, Democrat Rebecca Cooke of Eau Claire, is getting most of her campaign funds so far. Cooke reported raising slightly less than Van Orden in 2025, at just over $4 million.

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.

TOP DONORS TO VAN ORDEN (so far)

NAME	CITY	NOTES	AMOUNT
MCLENDON, MARGARET	RICHLAND, GA	Retired	$7,000
REHNERT, GEOFFREY	BOSTON, MA	Co-CEO and co-founder of Audax Group, an asset management firm involved in private equity, private debt and strategic capital	$7,000
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY	BAL HARBOUR, FL	Retired co-founder of Agman, an entrepreneurial investment firm	$7,000
MUSK, ELON	AUSTIN, TX	CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, X Corp	$6,600
BROWN, MOLLIE MILLER	LITTLE MOUNTAIN, SC	Retired	$5,247
LIKE, LINDA	MONROE CITY, IN	Retired	$4,596
TSIPOURIA, MELORY	CHULA VISTA, CA	Owner of PB Cleaning, a San Diego cleaning company	$4,000
MANTHEI, LEAH	NASHWAUK, MN	Retired	$3,997
SADERGASKI, LUCY	STEWART, MN	Retired	$3,946
CROUCH, PAULINE	WESTMINSTER, MD	Self-employed	$3,562
HOLLOBAUGH, JOHN	ALTOONA, PA	Retired	$3,525
MACDONALD, ANGUS	LIGHTHOUSE POINT, FL	Retired	$3,525
WALKER, DONALD	MERIDIAN, ID	Retired	$3,500
MORRICAL, PATRICIA K.	SARASOTA, FL	Retired	$3,500
LOHMAN, CAROLYN S.	BRYAN, TX	Wife of Tommie Lohman, former executive Texas Oil & Gas, former president of Delhi Gas Pipeline	$3,500
SHAYS, LORRAINE	DELRAY BEACH, FL	Retired computer hardware engineer	$3,500
SNEARLY, MARTHA	BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OH	Retired ophthalmologist	$3,500
MCDANIEL, PATRICIA	OLD SAYBROOK, CT	Retired	$3,500
SHIPWASH, MARY	AUSTIN, TX	Retired	$3,500
MASHBURN, LINDA	DALTON, GA	Retired	$3,500
MILLER, ANNE	GLOUCESTER, MA	Retired doctor	$3,500
CRAIG, CHARLES	PAINTED POST, NY	Retired Senior Vice President at Corning Incorporated, a glass, ceramics and concrete manufacturer	$3,500
HUANG, HUALIN	DAVIS, CA	Vice President of Nu Cybertek, an automation machinery manufacturer	$3,500
HARRIS, KAREN N.	MERIDIAN, MS	Retired	$3,500
YOUNG, LORRAINE A.	BYRNES MILL, MO	Retired	$3,500
SCHATTYN, JOHN M.	KERRVILLE, TX	Retired	$3,500
BURNS, MICHAEL J.	WEST PALM BEACH, FL	Retired	$3,500
LEVY, EDWARD C.	BIRMINGHAM, MI	Chairman of Edw. C. Levy Co., a construction company	$3,500
GREGORY, BEVERLY	WILMINGTON, NC	Retired	$3,500
GILLIAM, RICHARD	CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA	Founder of Cumberland Resources, a coal extractor	$3,500
ARNOLD, SARA MS.	ELM GROVE, WI	Retired radiologist	$3,500
BRADLEY, JACQUELINE	KESWICK, VA	Retired	$3,500
WERNER, MARY JO	LA CROSSE, WI	Retired	$3,500
TOCCO, JESSICA	EAST FALMOUTH, MA	Founder and CEO of A10 Associates, a defense and health lobbying firm. Now president of Shepherd Strategies, a government consulting firm.	$3,500
PURCELL, PHILIP	PARK CITY, UT	Former chairman and CEO of Morgan Stanley and Dean Witter	$3,500
SINGER, PAUL	ST. PETERSBURG, FL	Founder, president, co-CEO and co-CIO of Elliott Investment Management L.P., an investment management firm	$3,500
LUDINGTON, DAVID DR.	ONALASKA, WI	Retired oral surgeon	$3,500
STEWART, PHILLIP	SCIENCE HILL, KY	Insurance agent	$3,500
HUNT, WOODY L.	EL PASO, TX	Senior chairman of Hunt Companies, a principal investment firm	$3,500
POPOLO, JOSEPH	DALLAS, TX	United States Ambassador to the Netherlands, founder of Charles & Potomac Capital, a private investment firm	$3,500
POPOLO, CHRIS	DALLAS, TX	Wife of Joseph Popolo	$3,500
PAVELSKI, RICHARD	NAPLES, FL	Retired food manufacturing executive	$3,500
KUNZ, VICKY L.	HOLMEN, WI	Retired teacher at Luther High	$3,500
SEIDENSTICKER, LAURA	LAKE FOREST, IL	Retired engineer and consultant	$3,500

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