Laura Benjamin Shares Campaign Goals in Congressional Bid

Laura Benjamin officially launched her campaign for Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District seat in the November 2026 election on Tuesday.

The former Eau Claire City Council member officially filed her campaign paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on April 16. On Tuesday, she hosted a town hall style campaign launch event at the Brewing Projekt.

“I listend to Hakeem Jeffries when he addressed the nation in February and he asked the question ‘What power, what leverage do we have?’ and it really inspired me,” said Benjamin on her decision to run. “It got me involved doing more work with the third congressional district, writing policies. And after a period of time, I recognized that there was an opportunity for me to do even more than I was already doing.”

With about a year and a half to go until the November 2026 election, the Democratic primary field now features Laura Benjamin, Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge, and the 2024 Democratic nominee Rebecca Cooke.

Speaking on what separates her from Berge and Cooke, Benjamin said “I think what makes me a little different is that I have a background in building a vision. And I understand that when you’re building a business, building a campaign, building a vision for what a country can be, you set some goals and you start to build the plan while you’re flying it. Over time, you’re going to adapt new ideas and put them together, and that’s something I think I’m uniquely suited to do.”

Benjamin delivered her launch speech before taking questions from residents attending the event.

“I’m running because I see a future for America that uses its immense wealth to provide the things that other nations just take for granted,” she said. “Things like universal healthcare, affordable child care, free pre-K and college education, paid family leave, labor rights, home ownership, bodily autonomy, food security, clean energy, clean air and water. These aren’t far left radical ideas. They are basic rights when we do the right thing, and we force billionaires to play fair and pay their share.”

Speaking on the potential appetite for more progressive policies since January, Benjamin said “I think we’re going to see what people respond to. I promised my team and myself that in this campaign, I was going to be me, I was going to express the things I think were important and really stick by some of those ideas. I am willing to listen and I do want to integrate some different ideas that I do hear in communities. But I think the core message of things like universial healthcare, providing things that are needed for working people in Western Wisconsin to best do their jobs and succeed in their careers, that’s the kind of thing we need out of leadership in the district and America.”

The Democratic primary election will take place on August 11, 2026 with the winner set to challenge incumbent Congressman Derrick Van Orden in the general election.