Derrick Van Orden
Member of Congress
Republican
Ferryville 
Elected Experience
US House of Representatives, WI03, 4 years
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters send you to congress?
I’m a 26-year U.S. Navy SEAL veteran who served five combat tours, a small business owner, and a father. I’ve spent my life serving, building, and fighting for something bigger than myself. In Congress, I’ve worked to bring accountability back to Washington and stand up for rural Wisconsin families who feel ignored by the political class. I’ve pushed back on policies that drive up costs and weaken our communities, and I’ve focused on delivering results for veterans, farmers, and working families across WI-03.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
I’m fighting to make sure rural communities like ours are never overlooked. That means standing up against wasteful Washington spending that fuels inflation, unleashing American energy to lower costs, and cutting unnecessary regulations that hold back our farmers and small businesses. I’m also working to strengthen rural infrastructure so our roads, bridges, broadband, and agricultural systems are not left behind or neglected. My goal is simple. Put rural America first, protect our agricultural economy, and make sure people can keep more of what they earn while building a real future in places like ours.
What expertise would you bring into congress? How would it help your district?
I bring 26 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL, including five combat deployments, along with experience as a small business owner and most importantly, a father. In Congress, I serve on the Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and Armed Services Committees. More importantly, I’ve lived the same challenges many Wisconsin families face —balancing responsibilities, working hard to get ahead, and trying to give your kids a better shot than you had. I don’t need Washington to tell me what people are going through here. I’ve lived it. That’s why I focus on practical solutions that lower costs, strengthen paychecks, and make sure hard work actually pays off again in our communities.
Should Congress exert more oversight over the president? Why or why not?
Yes. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight of the executive branch, regardless of who is president. I’ve supported strong oversight of the Biden administration’s reckless spending and its failure to secure the southern border. Those policies created inflation, strained communities, and weakened trust in government. Oversight is not partisan, it’s essential to restoring accountability and ensuring the executive branch serves the American people.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
The first commercial cheese factory opened here in 1868, launching an industry that made Wisconsin “America’s Dairyland.” Today, we still lead the nation in cheese production, and that success is built on generations of hardworking farmers across WI-03.