Derrick Van Orden - Meet the Freshmen

Derrick Van Orden

Derrick Van Orden
Party:
Republican
Chamber:
House
State:
District:
3

WI-03: Derrick Van Orden (R)

REPLACING:

Ron Kind (D)[i]

WORK HISTORY:

The Butternut Café (Owner); Beat It Roach Creations (Writer); US Navy (Navy SEAL)[ii]

EDUCATION:

BS, Excelsior University[iii]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

An Education Our Children Deserve; Rebuilding Our Economy; Leading with Integrity; Improving Healthcare & Reducing Costs; Veterans Issues; Safe Communities; Farming & Agriculture; Border Security; Term Limits[iv]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

Van Orden is pro-life and has referred to abortion in the US as “genocide.” He supports defunding Planned Parenthood.[v] He strongly supports the Hyde Amendment and has argued that abortion is not “reproductive health.”[vi] [vii] [viii] He supports a national ban on abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest.[ix]

ECONOMY, JOBS & TAXES:

Van Orden is highly critical of Democratic economic policies and claims “Radical Socialist Spending” has led to record inflation and a recession. He opposed the Inflation Reduction Act, which he referred to as the “Inflation Creation Act,” and supports curbing “wasteful government spending.”[x] [xi] [xii] [xiii] [xiv] In Congress, Van Orden commits to working “tirelessly to stop Democrat tax hikes.”[xv]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Van Orden commits to making sure individuals with pre-existing conditions are protected “when Obamacare is fully repealed and a new system is implemented, allowing for true competition in healthcare, driving costs down.”[xvi] He’s argued, “the last vestiges of the disastrous Obama Care must be removed, and the free market must set prices.”[xvii] He strongly opposes vaccine mandates and supports “medical freedom.”[xviii] [xix]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Van Orden argues that, “Without borders, we are by definition, not a nation.” In Congress, he commits to “fight to fix the humanitarian crisis and disaster Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi have created at the border.”[xx] Van Orden claims Biden’s border policies are “killing Americans,” specifically through the trafficking of fentanyl.[xxi] [xxii] [xxiii] He supports a border wall.[xxiv]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

Van Orden is a “staunch supporter of law enforcement,” and says he will “ensure our law enforcement remains fully funded so that our officers are properly trained and equipped to perform their duties.”[xxv] He opposes qualified immunity for police officers and bail reform.[xxvi] [xxvii]

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS & ELECTION SECURITY:

Van Orden was a demonstrator outside the US Capitol on January 6. He contends “at no time did I enter the grounds, let alone the building.”[xxviii] Shortly after the 2020 election, he argued there was “plenty anecdotal evidence pointing to voter fraud in key states.”[xxix] He supports voter ID laws and term limits “on all legislators.”[xxx] [xxxi]

EDUCATION:

Van Orden opposes Critical Race Theory and a “woke agenda” in schools.[xxxii] He supports parental choice and was highly critical of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.[xxxiii] [xxxiv] [xxxv] He opposes student loan forgiveness, arguing that the working class will be forced to pay for it.[xxxvi] [xxxvii]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

Van Orden supports American energy independence and claims Biden’s “anti-energy policies” are “crushing the free world.”[xxxviii] [xxxix] [xl] He opposes the Green New Deal and has criticized Democratic policy proposals with electric vehicle subsidies.[xli] [xlii] [xliii]

GUN SAFETY:

Van Orden is endorsed by the NRA and holds an “AQ” rating.[xliv] He is opposed to any laws infringing on gun rights. [xlv] In 2021, Van Orden was fined and placed on unsupervised probation after attempting to board a plane with a loaded gun.[xlvi]

FOREIGN POLICY:

Van Orden has claimed “Biden’s inexcusable failure in Afghanistan has emboldened Putin and Xi,” and has criticized Biden’s inaction regarding the Chinese government’s persecution of Uyghurs, accusing him of “justifying genocide in China.”[xlvii] [xlviii] [xlix]


[i] Ally Mutnick, Heather Caygle & Sarah Ferris, “Rep. Ron Kind announces retirement in boon to GOP's House hopes,” Politico, August 10, 2021, available at https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/10/kind-reelection-503343.

[ii] Derrick Van Orden LinkedIn, accessed November 1, 2022, available at https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-van-orden-1a637a105/.

[iii] Derrick Van Orden LinkedIn, accessed November 1, 2022, available at https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-van-orden-1a637a105/.

[iv] “Issues,” Van Orden for Congress, accessed November 1, 2022, available at https://www.vanordenforcongress.com/issues/.

[v] Eric Lindquist, “GOP congressional candidates oppose virus mandates, impeachment,” Leader-Telegram, August 7, 2020, available at https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/gop-congressional-candidates-oppose-virus-mandates-impeachment/article_9a33906c-9e60-59fd-882b-79e99c1026c7.html.

[vi] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, March 26, 2021, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1375463056373874702.

[vii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, July 21, 2021, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1417875229481881600.

[viii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, January 28, 2021, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1354881951296073731.

[ix] Phoebe Petrovic, “Wisconsin candidates sharply divided along partisan lines on abortion rights,” Wisconsin Public Radio, October 9, 2022, available at https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-candidates-sharply-divided-along-partisan-lines-abortion-rights.

[x] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, August 24, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1562614081336397825.

[xi] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, September 13, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1569716547949662208.

[xii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, August 15, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1559268792810713088.

[xiii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, August 12, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1558224699754270720.

[xiv] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, September 26, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1574422703506866177.

[xv] “Issues,” Van Orden for Congress, accessed November 1, 2022, available at https://www.vanordenforcongress.com/issues/.

[xvi] “Issues,” Van Orden for Congress, accessed November 1, 2022, available at https://www.vanordenforcongress.com/issues/.

[xvii] Eric Lindquist, “GOP congressional candidates oppose virus mandates, impeachment,” Leader-Telegram, August 7, 2020, available at https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/gop-congressional-candidates-oppose-virus-mandates-impeachment/article_9a33906c-9e60-59fd-882b-79e99c1026c7.html.

[xviii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, January 5, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1478855112886042632.

[xix] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, October 25, 2021, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1451688521274732544.

[xx] “Issues,” Van Orden for Congress, accessed November 1, 2022, available at https://www.vanordenforcongress.com/issues/.

[xxi] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, June 27, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1541500409138790400.

[xxii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, July 21, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1550113485396344832.

[xxiii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, July 26, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1551958650599653376.

[xxiv] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, October 31, 2021, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1454920094035988481.

[xxv] “Issues,” Van Orden for Congress, accessed November 1, 2022, available at https://www.vanordenforcongress.com/issues/.

[xxvi] Eric Lindquist, “GOP congressional candidates oppose virus mandates, impeachment,” Leader-Telegram, August 7, 2020, available at https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/gop-congressional-candidates-oppose-virus-mandates-impeachment/article_9a33906c-9e60-59fd-882b-79e99c1026c7.html.

[xxvii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, September 12, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1569344160100122626.

[xxviii] Grace Kazarian, “10 Republicans on the ballot who were at or near the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021,” CBS News, October 30, 2022, available at https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jan-6-assault-republicans-running-for-office-capitol/.

[xxix] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, November 7, 2020, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1325133777568325632.

[xxx] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, July 14, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1415462531750055938.

[xxxi] “Issues,” Van Orden for Congress, accessed November 1, 2022, available at https://www.vanordenforcongress.com/issues/.

[xxxii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, November 1, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1587388994433720320.

[xxxiii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, October 17, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1582055832682135554.

[xxxiv] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, September 21, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1572720490720133120.

[xxxv] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, May 14, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1525489718238007298.

[xxxvi] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, August 29, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1564304487929585666.

[xxxvii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, August 31, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1564979752238288898.

[xxxviii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, October 5, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1577703289981997062.

[xxxix] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, October 6, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1577980969935671296.

[xl] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, June 27, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1541568362052026379.

[xli] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, September 13, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1569640672201789440.

[xlii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, July 31, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1553855016527593472.

[xliii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, August 12, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1558224699754270720.

[xliv] “Derrick Van Orden Receives NRA Endorsement, Pfaff Receives F Grade,” Van Orden for Congress Press Release, October 5, 2022, available at https://www.vanordenforcongress.com/derrick-van-orden-receives-nra-endorsement-pfaff-receives-f-grade/.

[xlv] Eric Lindquist, “GOP congressional candidates oppose virus mandates, impeachment,” Leader-Telegram, August 7, 2020, available at https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/gop-congressional-candidates-oppose-virus-mandates-impeachment/article_9a33906c-9e60-59fd-882b-79e99c1026c7.html.

[xlvi] Peter Cameron, “Van Orden outraising Pfaff by millions as cash pours into Wisconsin US House race, setting new record,” WIZM, October 26, 2022, available at https://www.wizmnews.com/2022/10/26/van-orden-outraising-pfaff-by-millions-as-cash-pours-into-wisconsin-us-house-race-setting-new-record/.

[xlvii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, January 25, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1486017390274088971.

[xlviii] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, February 17, 2021, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1362109170082844677.

[xlix] Derrick Van Orden Twitter, February 27, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/derrickvanorden/status/1497975175278563332.

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