EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge filed paperwork to run for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District seat in 2026.
Berge filed the paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on April 11.
Berge, who is running as a Democrat, is looking to unseat Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien.
Berge will also face fellow Democrat Rebecca Cooke, who is running for the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for a third time. Cooke said if she does not win the 2026 race, she will not try to claim the 3rd Congressional District seat again.
According to the city's website, in addition to serving as city council president, Berge also sits on the Advisory Committee on Appointments, the City Manager Evaluation Committee and the Chippewa St. Croix Rail Commission.
The city of Eau Claire does not have a mayor. Instead, the city council oversees both the city manager and city departments.
Aly Prouty - Digital Media Producer
Aly Prouty is a digital producer for Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin, Ohio and Kentucky. An award-winning, multimedia journalist, she holds an honors B.A. in journalism from Marquette University and an M.A. in journalism and media studies from The University of Alabama.
