- Derek Van Orden (R-WI) represents Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, covering rural western Wisconsin — a district he flipped from Democrat to Republican in 2022 by defeating Ron Kind's open seat.
- WI-3 is rated Lean Republican — covering La Crosse, Eau Claire, and the coulee country, it is a formerly Democratic district that has followed the trend of rural Wisconsin's shift toward the GOP.
- He is a former Navy SEAL with 26 years of service, retiring as a senior chief petty officer — his military background shapes his hawkish foreign policy and veteran's affairs focus.
- Van Orden made headlines in January 2021 when he was present at the Capitol on January 6th — he has described his role as peaceful protest and was not charged with any wrongdoing related to the events.
Biography
Derrick Van Orden is a retired Navy SEAL who served 26 years in the United States Navy, earning the Silver Star for valor in combat. After his military career, he worked as an author and actor before entering politics, running for Wisconsin’s 3rd congressional district in 2020. He lost that race to long-serving Democratic incumbent Ron Kind by approximately 3 points, one of the closest margins Kind had faced in years, signaling that the district was more competitive than its D+2 baseline suggested in the Trump era.
When Kind announced his retirement ahead of 2022, Van Orden ran again and flipped the seat, defeating Democrat Brad Pfaff in what was one of Republicans’ pickup wins that cycle. He was re-elected in 2024 with a somewhat wider margin as Donald Trump carried Wisconsin, boosting Republican candidates down-ballot across the state’s competitive districts. The district covers western Wisconsin, including the college city of La Crosse and the Eau Claire area, as well as agricultural counties along the Mississippi River — a diverse mix of working-class communities, college-town liberals, and rural conservatives.
Van Orden’s tenure has been marked by controversy. His presence at January 6 events and subsequent combative public conduct, including an incident involving congressional pages, have generated sustained negative coverage and fueled Democratic recruitment for 2026 rematches. He has positioned himself as a MAGA-aligned conservative in a district that previously sent Ron Kind, a moderate Democrat, to Congress for over two decades.
Key Policy Positions
Veterans & Military
Van Orden’s 26-year Navy SEAL career is the centerpiece of his political identity. He sits on the House Agriculture and Veterans’ Affairs committees and has positioned himself as a strong advocate for veterans’ services, military readiness, and defense spending. His combat experience and Silver Star decoration give him credibility with veteran voters in western Wisconsin, a region with strong military service traditions.
Agriculture & Rural Economy
WI-3’s agricultural communities along the Mississippi River and in the district’s interior counties depend heavily on dairy farming and row crops. Van Orden has been vocal on farm policy, supporting the Farm Bill and programs relevant to Wisconsin dairy farmers. His Agriculture Committee assignment reflects the district’s economic priorities, though his Trump-aligned trade positions have occasionally put him at odds with farmers affected by retaliatory tariffs on agricultural exports.
MAGA-Aligned Conservatism
Van Orden has been a reliable ally of Donald Trump and a vocal supporter of the MAGA agenda, including restrictive immigration policies, opposition to LGBTQ rights measures, and criticism of federal spending and regulatory programs. His hardline positions on cultural issues have been controversial in a district that includes La Crosse — a college town and regional medical center with a more moderate political character — and may present an electoral vulnerability in a D+2 district.
WI-3 Election History: From Safe Dem to Toss-Up
Wisconsin’s 3rd district was a reliable Democratic hold for 26 years under Ron Kind, who built a moderate, constituent-service brand that kept the seat blue even as the surrounding rural counties shifted Republican. Van Orden’s flip came when Kind retired — not because the district fully embraced MAGA conservatism. Understanding this history is key to modeling 2026.
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Result | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Ron Kind (inc.) | Steve Toft | D+19 | Kind's last blowout win; blue wave year |
| 2020 | Ron Kind (inc.) | Derrick Van Orden | D+3 | Closest Kind race ever; Van Orden signaled vulnerability |
| 2022 | Brad Pfaff | Derrick Van Orden | R+6 | Open seat; Kind retires; Van Orden wins first term |
| 2024 | Rebecca Cooke | Derrick Van Orden (inc.) | R+5 | Trump carried WI; boosted Van Orden; Cooke ran competitive |
| 2026 | TBD Democrat | Derrick Van Orden (inc.) | Toss-up (forecast) | D+2 PVI; Jan 6 liability; midterm environment key variable |
2026 Election Outlook
WI-3 is one of Democrats’ highest-priority House pickup targets for 2026. The district’s D+2 Cook PVI baseline, combined with Van Orden’s controversies and the historical precedent of Ron Kind holding the seat as a centrist Democrat for 26 years, give Democrats a compelling structural argument for recapture. In a midterm environment that may be difficult for the party in power, Democratic base to pick up this seat is high.
Democrats will likely field a well-funded challenger emphasizing Van Orden’s January 6 associations and combative conduct, contrasting with the moderate, constituent-service-oriented approach that Kind exemplified for the district. Most forecasters project the race as a Toss-Up or Lean Republican for 2026, depending on the national environment.
More to Explore
Watch: Rep. Derrick Van Orden Speaks on US House Floor
External resources: Derrick Van Orden on Ballotpedia — Derrick Van Orden on Wikipedia