Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) made an unusual admission Wednesday: He says he's not paying attention to his own reelection bid, less than seven months before the midterms.
In a video captured by Charlotte Scott of Spectrum News on the Capitol steps, Van Orden was asked about a Democratic-backed redistricting initiative that passed in Virginia on Tuesday. He called the measure “completely disingenuous.”
When pressed on whether Texas Republicans should have started the redistricting fight last summer, the Wisconsin freshman said he focuses on his home state and avoids things beyond his control.
“I’ve got a lot of friends here in Congress that are Republicans in Virginia, and if this goes through, I’ll miss them,” Van Orden said. “But I don’t even know if I’m going to get reelected. I don’t really follow that either, sorry to disappoint you guys.”
He added: “I’m just a horrible politician, I guess.”
Van Orden, a retired Navy SEAL, first won Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District in 2022 by defeating state Sen. Brad Pfaff (D) by less than 4 points. Two years later, he beat Democrat Rebecca Cooke by less than 3 points. Cooke, a former board member of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, is running again. As of March 31, her campaign reported $4.4 million cash on hand, compared to Van Orden’s $3.8 million, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
The primary is set for Aug. 11, with Democrats Emily Berge, Melvin Marin, and Rodney Rave also in the race. The Cook Political Report rates Van Orden’s seat as a “Toss Up,” one of 16 House races with that designation, 13 of which are held by Republicans.
Van Orden’s admission comes amid broader GOP concerns about redistricting battles, including warnings from Democratic leaders that aggressive redistricting could cost the party control of the House. Meanwhile, some Republican strategists worry that feuds between party leaders and international figures could hurt GOP turnout in the midterms.
The race in Wisconsin’s 3rd District is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country, with both parties pouring resources into the fight. Van Orden’s lack of focus on his own campaign has raised eyebrows among political observers, who note that incumbents typically spend heavily on reelection efforts by this point in the cycle.
