Eric Wilson (Wisconsin)

Eric Wilson (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on August 13, 2024.

Wilson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Eric Wilson was born in Menomonie, Wisconsin. He earned a high school diploma from Bloomer High School and a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2015. His career experience includes working as an IT project manager. Wilson also has career experience in healthcare and housing. As of 2024, he was affiliated with NAMI Chippewa Valley, Chippewa Valley LGBTQ Community Center, the Eau Claire County Democratic Party, and Stonewall Sports.

2024 battleground election

See also: Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Democratic primary)

Ballotpedia identified the August 13 Democratic primary as a battleground race. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here. Rebecca Cooke (D) defeated Katrina Shankland (D) and Eric Wilson (D) in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District on August 13, 2024. Click here for more detailed results. Cooke and Shankland led in campaign finance. Incumbent Derrick Van Orden (R) ran for re-election.

Cooke and Shankland sought to distinguish themselves from each other by focusing on their experiences and who was better able to appeal to voters in the district. Cooke highlighted her lack of legislative experience as an asset saying: "I'm running a campaign that's really focused on my lived experiences... they know I've experienced a lot of the same hardship they have, and I've walked a mile in their shoes." She was critical of Shankland's legislative experience being an advantage, saying that people were less trusting of long-serving politicians. Shankland focused on her career in the Wisconsin Assembly, saying voters would not want a “candidate coming into Congress on training wheels.” She highlighted her legislative record in an advertisement, comparing it to Cooke's lack of experience.

Cooke received the endorsement of the Blue Dog Coalition and the New Democrat Coalition. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D), one of the Blue Dog Coalition's co-chairs, believed Cooke was a good candidate for the district, pointing to her upbringing on a dairy farm as one of the reasons she was a good fit for the district.

Shankland received endorsements from labor unions in the district and from Congressman Mark Pocan (D), a progressive who represents Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District. Pocan praised Shankland's record passing legislation and winning elections, and said she was the strongest Democrat in the race.

Cooke, a small business owner, served on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Brad Pfaff defeated her in the 2022 primary 38.9% to 31.1%. Cooke focused on her work experience and what she said was her ability to connect with the district's voters: “You know, I don’t come from a career background in politics, and I feel like there’s a lot of people in our district that want to have a representative that has lived experiences that they can connect to...” As of July 15, 2024, Cooke raised the most money of the Democratic candidates.

Shankland was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 2012. She focused on her legislative experience and winning elections. Shankland told reporters at her campaign launch: “Not only will I have a strong base here in Portage County and central Wisconsin, but I think a lot of voters were interested in seeing the 150-plus bills that I passed into law and the track record of building a large coalition of people, not just Democrats who support me, will be interested in that message across the third.”

Eric Wilson worked in the real estate and healthcare industries. He said in an interview: “I’m running to help everyone who has struggled. I want to be that advocate for western Wisconsin to uplift struggling families, to lessen the burden that we’re seeing.” The UW Exponent said Wilson decided to run: "...after the Colorado Springs, CO, shooting, saying, 'We (the LGBTQ+ community) will continue to get killed. Thoughts and prayers aren’t working, clearly. What can I do?'" PBS Wisconsin's Nathan Denzin said of Wilson's campaign: "Wilson positioned himself as the most progressive candidate in the Democratic primary field. The third candidate to enter the race, Wilson lists 'Medicare for All,' a 'Green New Deal,' and a ceasefire in Gaza among his top issues on his campaign website." Wilson received the endorsements of Our Wisconsin Revolution and the Center for Freethought Equality.

Based on Q2 2024 reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Cooke raised $1.8 million and spent $787,359, Shankland raised $797,979 and spent $455,852, and Wilson raised $127,300 and spent $81,741. To review all the campaign finance figures in full detail, click here.

As of June 3, 2024, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter ranked the general election Lean Republican. Inside Elections with Nathan Gonzales and Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball ranked the race as Likely Republican.

Elections

2024

See also: Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024

Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Democratic primary)

Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (August 13 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Wisconsin District 3

Incumbent Derrick Van Orden defeated Rebecca Cooke in the general election for U.S. House Wisconsin District 3 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Derrick Van Orden (R)	51.3	212,064
		Rebecca Cooke (D)	48.6	200,808
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	309

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 413,181
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Rustin Provance (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 3

Rebecca Cooke defeated Katrina Shankland and Eric Wilson in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 3 on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rebecca Cooke	50.5	42,316
		Katrina Shankland	41.6	34,812
		Eric Wilson	7.9	6,624
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	24

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 83,776
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Tara Johnson (D)
• Aaron Nytes (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 3

Incumbent Derrick Van Orden advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 3 on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Derrick Van Orden	99.6	52,533
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4	211

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 52,744
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Wilson's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Wilson in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Eric Wilson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wilson's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Menomonie and raised in Western Wisconsin as the youngest of six children. I understand the values of hard work, family, and community that define our district. My deep roots, spanning five generations dating back to the 1850s, have fostered a genuine connection to the needs and aspirations of our community. I come from a big family of teachers, coaches, small business owners, and manufacturing workers.

I graduated from UW Madison with a degree in Economics, and have experience working in IT as a project manager in the medical and housing sectors. I have a unique understanding of the tough issues we face. We do not solve one issue at a time, they are all connected.

I am also suited for solving our problems of tomorrow. AI is going to need regulations. We need young people from the technology sector to make sure citizens and their privacy, unique work and livelihoods are protected. The folks in congress that are well past retirement age aren't going to know how to protect us.

I’m the only Democrat in this race advocating for responsible gun ownership. I’m the only one that’s called for a ceasefire. I’m the only one in support of full student loan forgiveness. I’m the only one fighting for Medicare for All. I am running to lead the next generation of American’s to a brighter future.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Medicare for All is my top priority. I am the only one supporting it. I am uniquely qualified as I have worked within the health insurance and pharmaceutical management systems and understand how their business and systems operate. I’ve also been a patient myself, and I understand the systems in place. The United States has the most expensive and least effective healthcare system compared with other developed nations. 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.
• Common sense gun reform is needed now. I am the only candidate with the Mom’s Demand Action Candidate Distinction. Gun violence is the number 1 cause of death in children in Wisconsin. We need to bring in common sense immediately, including but not limited to: closing background check loopholes, banning bump stocks, fully automatic weapons, high capacity magazines and bringing back the assault weapons ban. We need red flag laws, mental health, and more social workers.
• Everyone should have access to quality education at all levels and should not be based on where you live or how much you make. This means making sure schools have the resources to support our children with disabilities and special needs. We also need to pay our teachers a living wage. Every student deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. Full student loan forgiveness is essential for our economy. I am the only one in support of making public trades schools, tech colleges and higher education free. Full student debt cancellation would boost the economy by $1 trillion over 10 years, creating millions of jobs and letting people buy homes, start businesses and pursue their dreams. We can't move forward together without it.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Healthcare, Housing, and Climate; if people don't have their health and a place to live, it makes everything else in life more difficult. If we don’t have a livable world, the rest of this really doesn’t matter.
Responsible Gun Ownership; The shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs in November of 2022 was the moment that called me to action. If we don't do something, my LGBTQ family will continue to be slaughtered. Gun violence is the number 1 cause of death in children in Wisconsin. Enough is enough.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The movie Affluenza (1997) which explores the high social and environmental costs of materialism and overconsumption.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Empathy and the desire to listen and to try to understand different perspectives. If you don’t have a desire to listen you will never truly be listening to understand and truly represent people.
We also need people who have the desire to work together and compromise. If we can not come together, we will not be able to move forward together.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am told I am a great listener and I actually enjoy the campaign trail and hearing peoples stories. I also have the unique skillset of project management in healthcare and housing. I identify problems, figure out solutions, and make sure they get implemented.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The House of Representatives is truly meant to reflect the will of the people within the district. A core responsibility is to go to Washington and be an advocate for the people of the district and get resources so Wisconsin is not left behind.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was to pick up golfballs at a local golf course.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have dealt with years of health care issues between migraines and chest issues. Growing up, I had a concave chest and couldn’t breathe properly, especially when I was playing sports. During my sophomore year of college, I finally had the chest reconstructive surgery I needed to live a normal life. And, like so many people, I came out of the surgery in serious medical debt.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The election of the entire House every 2 years makes it a body that must be responsive to their constituents. The adage that everybody hates congress but loves their congressperson and that most incumbents get re-elected shows how truly being representative can make you popular with constituents.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

The house is designed to be the body of the people. While it can be helpful, I don’t think it’s necessary. We need to have different life experiences and perspectives represented to truly understand the challenges the nation is facing. What matters most is the ability to listen and their stance on the issues.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Healthcare, Democracy and Climate Change. If we do not change our for profit healthcare system, our population will continue to get and stay sick. If we don’t work on rebuilding trust in our country and communities we will be headed towards destruction.
Climate change is going to continue to progress and become more destructive to our communities. We are not prepared for the consequences and where people will have to move.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes - it makes them responsive to their constituents.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I support term limits if we are not able to fix campaign financing. We should not have a government where people are in power for 40 years. I think we should consider changing the supreme court to have age limits.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Russ Feingold. He was a strong progressive advocate for Wisconsin.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I was in Stevens Point on campus and talking with a student who is part of the LGBTQ community. They shared with me that they were so thankful I was running and fighting for them. They have felt isolated and are unable to come out to their parents, because they would be cut off. Growing up as a gay kid in rural Wisconsin, I understand what that isolation and fear can feel like. I want to be a role model and show them the possibilities and potential of an inclusive community.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes, it is essential for us to move forward together.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

It doesn’t really matter where the power comes from, it still needs to be passed by both houses and the President. Working together and compromise is the only way that things will ever get done.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

It should use this power to hold big corporations and people in power accountable to the people.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Tim Nordin - Eau Claire Area School Board President

Al Holle - Former Chippewa County Dem Chair
Gretchen Yonko - Menomonie City Council Ward 7 Alderperson
Cody Gentz - Menomonie City Council Ward 7 Alderperson
George Rohmeyer - Chippewa County Supervisor District #17
Sam Lang - Stevens Point City Council District 9
Dale Steinmetz - Stevens Point City Council District 6
Lara Broderick - Stevens Point City Council District 4
Lynn Parrott - Platteville City Council - At Large
Kelly Liebold - La Crosse County Board - District 1

Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate

What committees interest you?

Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

We need campaign finance reform, public funding and stronger ethics rules. We need to end dark money groups and the revolving door for lobbyists.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Eric Wilson campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024	U.S. House Wisconsin District 3	Lost primary	$257,829	$257,509
Grand total			$257,829	$257,509
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

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Footnotes

[show]

Wisconsin's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Tammy Baldwin (D)

Ronald Johnson (R)

Representatives

District 1

Bryan Steil (R)

District 2

Mark Pocan (D)

District 3

Derrick Van Orden (R)

District 4

Gwen Moore (D)

District 5

Scott Fitzgerald (R)

District 6

Glenn Grothman (R)

District 7

Tom Tiffany (R)

District 8

Tony Wied (R)

Republican Party (7)

Democratic Party (3)