BIOGUIDE V000135 · FEC H0WI03175
Derrick Van Orden
U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District (since 2023)RINCUMBENT
- Race
- U.S. House · Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District
- Result
- Rebecca Cooke, projected winner
- Opponents
- Rebecca Cooke (D); Alexander Valiensi Kent (IND); Rustin Provance (IND)
- Research
- Basic
Party line17 votes tracked
Broke with Republicans on
With party = voted the same way as most Republicans who voted.
Said vs. did4 statements · 17 votes
I support fully funding ICE and CBP to give the resources they need to secure the border, crack down on cartels and fentanyl trafficking, and enforcing our immigration laws.
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotU.S. House · 3
2026-11-03
| Derrick Van Orden R | incumbent |
| Rebecca Cooke D | challenger |
| Alexander Valiensi Kent IND | challenger |
| Rustin Provance IND | challenger |
Advanced from the Republican primary unopposed.
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
Campaign site says he supports fully repealing the Affordable Care Act and implementing a new system allowing for competition in healthcare, while protecting people with preexisting conditions; also says he secured $1 billion annually for BadgerCare and increased federal ambulance funding for the district.
Documented position[5]
I support fully funding ICE and CBP to give the resources they need to secure the border, crack down on cartels and fentanyl trafficking, and enforcing our immigration laws.
Told WEAU in August 2026 that he supports fully funding ICE and CBP and enforcing immigration laws.[9]
The Constitution designates the President as Commander-in-Chief for a reason. President Trump acted fully within its constitutional authority and in accordance with the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
In a June 2026 statement on a House-passed War Powers Resolution he said the President acted within constitutional authority on Iran and that limiting the President’s ability to respond restricts the Commander-in-Chief.[12]
- NOWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization.[13]
- NOWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.[14]
2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement
Cosponsored H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (119th Congress), which would require states to honor other states' concealed-carry permits.
Documented position[15]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- YESSAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).[16]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.[17]
Biography
Derrick Van Orden is the Republican U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 3rd District, which he has represented since 2023, and lost re-election on November 3, 2026 to Rebecca Cooke. A Navy SEAL who retired as a Senior Chief after 26 years of service, he later worked as an actor and author, reopened the Butternut Cafe with his wife, and won the seat in 2022 after an unsuccessful 2020 run. He serves on the Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs and Armed Services committees; his term ends January 3, 2027.[1][2][3][4]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Van Orden was born September 15, 1969, in Hennepin County, Minnesota. According to Wikipedia, his family lived in Hartland, Wisconsin, before moving to the Portland, Oregon, area, where he attended Lakeridge High School, and his campaign website says he was raised in rural poverty by his mother.[1][18][3] He earned a bachelor's degree from Excelsior University, and his campaign website says he later attended law school.[1][3]
Van Orden joined the U.S. Navy in 1988 and served 26 years, retiring in 2014 as a Navy SEAL Senior Chief with multiple combat tours. His official biography lists service in the Horn of Africa, Asia, Europe, and South and Central America, and says he planned Special Operations contingency operations for Europe during a 2012 tour.[1][2][18] After the Navy he appeared in the 2012 film Act of Valor and in two later films, and wrote the book A Book of Man: A Navy SEAL's Guide to the Lost Art of Manhood, according to his campaign website, which also says he consulted with Fortune 500 companies.[3][18] He and his wife, Sara Jane, owned and operated the Butternut Cafe in Butternut, Wisconsin, from 2017 to early 2019, according to Wikipedia; his campaign website describes reopening the village cafe after they retired to their farm.[1][3][18]
Van Orden ran for Wisconsin's 3rd District in 2020 and lost the general election to Democratic incumbent Ron Kind, with 48.6% of the vote. He was elected to the U.S. House in November 2022, defeating Democrat Brad Pfaff 51.8% to 48.1% in the open-seat race to succeed Kind, and took office in January 2023.[1][18][2] He won re-election in 2024, defeating Democrat Rebecca Cooke 51.3% to 48.6%, and advanced unopposed from the August 2026 Republican primary.[1] He serves on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee (chairman of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee), the Agriculture Committee (Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture; Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry) and the Armed Services Committee (Intelligence and Special Operations; Strategic Forces).[19] His official biography says he and Sara Jane live in Wisconsin and have four children and eleven grandchildren; his campaign website gives the grandchild count as 13.[2][3] He received 45.8% of the vote to Rebecca Cooke's 52.4%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[4]
Recent votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207 |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted no | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210 |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21 |
| 2026-01-08 | Against partyvoted yes | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196 |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212 |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18 |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1 |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted yes | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2 |
Showing the 8 most recent of 17 votes.
All 17 recorded votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans. |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted no | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy. |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026. |
| 2026-01-08 | Against partyvoted yes | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans. |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region. |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year. |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support. |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted yes | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively. |
| 2025-07-17 | With partyvoted yes | CLARITY Act — digital asset market structureH.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · roll call ↗Democrats 78–134 · Republicans 216–0The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries. |
| 2025-07-17 | With partyvoted yes | GENIUS Act — stablecoin regulationS. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · roll call ↗Democrats 102–110 · Republicans 206–12The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law. |
| 2025-07-03 | With partyvoted yes | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passageH.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 218–2H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025. |
| 2025-06-12 | With partyvoted yes | Rescissions Act of 2025H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–208 · Republicans 214–4The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades. |
| 2025-05-22 | With partyvoted yes | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passageH.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 215–2H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients. |
| 2025-04-10 | With partyvoted yes | SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registrationH.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 4–208 · Republicans 216–0The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls. |
| 2025-03-11 | With partyvoted yes | Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 1–212 · Republicans 216–1The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations. |
| 2025-01-22 | With partyvoted yes | Laken Riley Act — final passageS. 5 · Passed 263–156 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–156 · Republicans 217–0The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions. |
| 2023-05-11 | With partyvoted yes | Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passageH.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–211 · Republicans 219–2Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers. |
On the record
Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.
- actionServes on the House Committee on Agriculture (Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture; Vice Chair of Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry), chairs the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and serves on the House Committee on Armed Services (Intelligence and Special Operations; Strategic Forces) in the 119th Congress.[5]
In their own words
Priorities
- Says he is committed to ensuring western Wisconsin has access to safe drinking water, well-maintained roads and bridges, and reliable rural broadband, citing funding he secured to address PFAS contamination.[5]
- Champions the Working Family Tax Cuts legislation, which he says ensures more of workers' earnings remain in their pockets.[5]
- Says he will work to protect individuals with preexisting conditions once Obamacare is repealed and a new system implemented allowing for competition in healthcare.[5]
Campaign money$7.5M raised · 81% from individuals · FEC through 2026-07-22
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $4.4M
- PACs & committees $995K
- Party $15K
Largest committee contributions
- American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Separate Segregated Fund (Crna-Pac) PAC$10K
- On Wisconsin PAC, Inc. PAC$10K
- American Revival PAC PAC$10K
- Mr. Southern Missourian in the House PAC PAC$10K
- The Eye of the Tiger Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- First in Freedom PAC PAC$10K
- Smart Td PAC PAC$10K
- Eureka Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- American Security PAC PAC$10K
- Ttm Technologies Inc. Political Action Committee PAC$10K
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/derrick-van-orden
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 15 of 440 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (11), Climate & energy (6), Foreign affairs & defense (2)
Amendment (Grothman) to H.R. 8800 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
A yes vote supported an H.R. 8800 amendment that requires the Secretary of Defense to report within 180 days on options for cutting Defense Department civilian employment by 200,000. (AI-written)
What it does: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 This bill sets forth policies and authorities for FY2027 for Department of Defense (DOD) programs, activities, and military construction as well as the national…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–210, Republicans 174–43
Jul 22, 2026Official record ↗
Faster Labor Contracts Act
What it does: Faster Labor Contracts Act This bill establishes mandatory deadlines for parties negotiating an initial collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and provides for mediation and arbitration to finalize CBAs.
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 210–0, Republicans 20–192
Jun 9, 2026Official record ↗
Amendment (Self) to H.R. 7567 — Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026
A yes vote adopted an amendment (Self) adding soda, defined as a carbonated beverage with over 1 gram of added sugar, sweetener or flavoring per serving, to the items SNAP benefits cannot buy. (AI-written)
What it does: Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 This bill (commonly known as the farm bill) reauthorizes through FY2031 and modifies Department of Agriculture programs that address commodity support, conservation, trade…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 29–183, Republicans 156–55
Apr 30, 2026Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 214–212 · Yes 214–No 212 · Democrats 0–211, Republicans 214–0
Jun 9, 2026Official record ↗
- No
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act
With most of their party · Failed 214–217 · Yes 214–No 217 · Democrats 214–0, Republicans 0–216
Feb 11, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 217–215 · Yes 217–No 215 · Democrats 0–214, Republicans 216–1
Feb 25, 2025Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Failed 215–215 · Yes 215–No 215 · Democrats 213–0, Republicans 2–214
Jan 22, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Failed 213–213 · Yes 213–No 213 · Democrats 211–0, Republicans 2–212
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
Compare all 4 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Derrick Van Orden · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.About · Office of Rep. Derrick Van Orden Official record
- 3.About · Derrick Van Orden for Congress Candidate's own words
- 4.U.S. House · Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 5.Derrick Van Orden · Ballotpedia Reference
- 6.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
- 7.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
- 8.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
- 9.DECISION 2026: Cooke, Van Orden agree on pocketbook pressures, split over causes and solutions · WEAU News report
- 10.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
- 11.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
- 12.Van Orden: The Commander-in-Chief Must Retain the Ability to Act Decisively · Rep. Derrick Van Orden (official site) Official record
- 13.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
- 14.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
- 15.H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 16.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
- 17.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
- 18.Derrick Van Orden · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 19.Committees and Caucuses · Office of Rep. Derrick Van Orden Official record