Derrick Van Orden

Derrick Van Orden was born in Hennepin County, Minnesota.[1] He earned his bachelor's degree from Excelsior University.[1] Van Orden served in the U.S. Navy from 1988 to 2014, retiring as a Navy SEAL Senior Chief.[2][3] His career experience includes owning The Butternut Cafe, working as a writer with Beat it Roach Creations, and film acting.[2][3]

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Campaign websiteVan Orden's campaign website stated the following:IssuesDerrick has a deep love for his state and country. He understands that there is no higher calling than serving the American people. While Derrick no longer fights on the battlefield, he continues his service by utilizing the leadership skills, drive and tenacity he gained in the SEAL Teams to better Wisconsin.Derrick stands for common sense policies that ensure our nation’s prosperity and security, represent our foundational values, and give Wisconsinites a reason to once again be proud of their leaders.Transportation and InfrastructureOur national infrastructure is aging, and Derrick is committed to ensuring that western Wisconsin has access to safe, clean drinking water, well-maintained roads and bridges, and reliable rural broadband.In Congress, Derrick has secured millions in funding to provide western Wisconsin with drinking water that is safe from contaminants and has also secured $350 million to transition firefighting foams away from PFAS to safer alternatives.Rebuilding our EconomyAs a former small business owner, Derrick understands that four years under the Biden-Harris administration have put considerable strain on the finances of Wisconsin families.Derrick knows the people of Wisconsin are the hardest working in the country. That is why he champions legislation like the Working Family Tax Cuts which ensures more of your hard earned money remains where it should be: in your pocket.Leading with IntegrityDerrick has put duty above personal gain his entire life. After 26 years in the Navy, including 21 as a Navy SEAL, he returned to Wisconsin to open a small business and give back to his community. Now, Derrick is bringing that same mindset to Washington, working for every person in his district, regardless of political party, not for the political leaders in D.C.Improving Healthcare and Reducing CostsDerrick will work to make sure individuals with preexisting conditions are protected when Obamacare is fully repealed and a new system is implemented allowing for true competition in healthcare, driving costs down.While that work continues in Washington, Derrick is working to ensure that every Wisconsinite has access to high quality, readily available, and actually affordable healthcare. Under Derrick’s leadership, he secured $1 billion annually for BadgerCare, obtained an additional $600,000 in federal funding for new ambulances in underserved areas of the District, and successfully fought for and secured $500 million to strengthen Wisconsin’s rural hospital infrastructure. Veterans IssuesDerrick’s Navy service gave him a unique perspective on caring for our veterans. He receives his healthcare through the VA and continues to do so even as a Member of Congress.As a Corpsman with the Navy SEALs, Derrick saved countless lives on the battlefield and has worked to cut red tape at the VA, making treatment for physical and mental injuries more accessible for veterans.As Chairman of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, Derrick works tirelessly to create pathways for veterans to successfully reintegrate into civilian life through post-secondary education, new employment and training opportunities, support for veteran-owned businesses, and removing barriers to housing.In Congress, Derrick has demanded accountability from the VA, fought to protect veterans from foreclosure through the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act, and worked to enhance GI Bill transparency, ensuring educational benefits are fair for both reserve and enlisted members.Safe CommunitiesWhile rising crime, illegal immigration, and increased illicit drug use have made our communities less safe, Derrick has been a staunch supporter of law enforcement throughout his life.He has brought together leaders across Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District to hear the challenges they face in protecting and serving our communities—leading to his support for legislation that classifies fentanyl as a controlled substance.In Congress, Derrick continues to stand with the men and women in blue, supporting legislation that combats crime, strengthens law enforcement, and ensures officers have the tools and resources they need to keep our communities safe.Farming and AgricultureWisconsin is America’s Dairyland, and the Third Congressional District is a major producer of dairy and agricultural products. Derrick is committed to working on behalf of farmers and is the first Wisconsin member in more than a decade to serve on the House Agriculture Committee.Derrick continues to deliver major wins for Wisconsin farmers in Congress, including passing the Dairy Business Innovation Act to support the development, production, marketing, and distribution of Wisconsin dairy products.He also championed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act which was signed into law by President Trump and ensures children have access to whole milk.Border SecurityDerrick has staunchly supported President Trump’s border policies and his efforts to deport criminal illegal aliens, including the man who assaulted two women just blocks from his home in Prairie du Chien.Without borders, we are, by definition, not a nation. Derrick is working with the Trump Administration to secure our borders, ensure law enforcement and border patrol agents have the resources they need, keep communities safe, and remove dangerous criminal illegal aliens from our streets.Term LimitsDerrick supports term limits on all legislators, ensuring that being elected to Congress remains an act of public service, not a way to enrich one’s self.Data CentersLOCAL CONTROL, LOCAL BUY-INWisconsin families and local communities must have the final say over what gets built in their communities. Data center development should not be imposed on communities without local input or consent.PROTECT WISCONSIN FARMLANDProductive Wisconsin farmland will not be paved over for data centers. RATEPAYER PROTECTIONData centers will not begin construction until they have signed agreements with local utilities and communities to cover the new energy and grid infrastructure their facilities require, ensuring Wisconsin families are not left paying the bill.PROTECT WISCONSIN’S WATERData centers must use technology that minimizes their impact on Wisconsin’s water resources. Closed-loop and air-cooled cooling systems should be utilized wherever feasible, and data centers must not pollute or deplete local water supplies.USE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTUREWisconsin should prioritize locations with existing infrastructure rather than placing massive facilities in the middle of communities and rural farmland. Existing military bases and other appropriate sites should be considered before developing new sites to address noise pollution.— Derrick Van Orden's campaign website (September 14, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

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Campaign website

Van Orden's campaign website stated the following:

An Education our Children Deserve

In times of crisis, our leaders should revert to our founding documents: The Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence. Democrats like Tony Evers have ignored our founding principles and instead imposed onerous and capricious restrictions on our families and schools.

Derrick believes we need to restore our freedoms after the last year of imposed restrictions, and that starts with getting our children back to school. Data shows that risks of children in schools are minimal, and we need to act now to help our children get the education they deserve.

Rebuilding our Economy

Wisconsin families have had to adapt to considerable change: a global pandemic, overreaching government mandates, and lack of support from Washington. Now is the time to get back to work, safely and responsibly.

As a former small business owner, Derrick will be the voice that our communities deserve. He knows the people of Wisconsin are the hardest working in the country. Derrick will never stop fighting to make sure the people of the 3rd District can display the hard work, innovation, and ingenuity that Wisconsin has to offer on a fair playing field. Derrick will work tirelessly to stop Democrat tax hikes and make sure more of your hard earned money remains where it should be: in your pocket.

Leading with Integrity

Derrick has put duty above personal gain for his entire life. After 26 years in the Navy, 21 as a Navy SEAL, Derrick returned to his home in Wisconsin to open a small business and give back to the community. He knows that being a Representative means exactly that: representing the people who elected him to serve.

Improving Healthcare and Reducing Costs

Derrick will work to make sure individuals with preexisting conditions are protected when Obamacare is fully repealed and a new system is implemented allowing for true competition in healthcare, driving costs down.

Veterans Issues

Derrick’s Navy service gave him a unique perspective on caring for our veterans. Derrick gets his healthcare from the VA and will continue to do so as a Congressman.

As a Corpsman with the Navy SEALs, Derrick has saved countless lives on the battlefield and knows that treatment for veterans doesn’t end there. He knows we need to cut red tape at the VA, making treatment for physical and mental scars more accessible for veterans.

Safe Communities

Derrick has been a staunch supporter of law enforcement throughout his life, and has brought together leaders in the 3rd District to listen to the challenges they face protecting and serving Wisconsin communities. Derrick will ensure our law enforcement remains fully funded so that our officers are properly trained and equipped to perform their duties.

Farming and Agriculture

Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland and the 3rd District is a major producer of dairy and agricultural products. Derrick is committed to working on behalf of farmers, and will work to be appointed to the Agriculture committee where he will be a leading voice for Wisconsin’s dairy industry.

Border Security

Without borders, we are by definition, not a nation. We must regain control of our borders to keep our nation safe. Derrick will fight to fix the humanitarian crisis and disaster Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi have created at the border.

Term Limits

Derrick supports term limits on all legislators, ensuring that being elected to Congress remains an act of public service, not a way to enrich one’s self.[4]

—Derrick Van Orden's campaign website (2022)[5]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Derrick Van Orden is an American patriot, retired Navy SEAL, husband, father, grandfather and Christian. He lives with his wife, Sara, on a small hobby farm in Hager City, Wisconsin.

Derrick and his brother were raised in rural poverty by their beloved mother, Carol, who taught them the importance of hard work and self-reliance. She was a fiery Irish farm girl who also taught them to speak plainly and never back down from a just fight.

Derrick's journey of public service started when he joined the Navy at the age of 18. He had the honor to serve our great nation for over 26 years. He retired as a Navy SEAL Senior Chief with 5 combat deployments and several others to troubled areas in the world.

Derrick also became involved in acting and has starred in several motion pictures including; Act of Valor, Surviving the Wild staring Jon Voight, and Running with the Devil, staring Nic Cage and Lawrence Fishburne. He is also a best-selling author.

After retirement, Derrick utilized his leadership skills learned in the SEAL Teams in the private sector consulting with Fortune 500 companies assisting them organizational leadership and C suit mentorship.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Our platform is based on seven words from one of the most profound documents ever written; The Declaration of Independence. They are; "Life Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." I will bring my proven leadership to our district, leadership that has been missing for over 20 years.We will never back down from a just fight, we will always protect those in need, and there will always be room for one more at the table.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate in the belief that there are far too many politicians in Washington DC and not enough statesmen. I will bring mature decision making back to the House and use my judgement to deal with issues as they present themselves.