Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a Republican representing a competitive congressional district in southwestern Wisconsin, remains firmly aligned with former President Donald Trump as he seeks re-election in a closely watched race. Van Orden’s district, which stretches along the Mississippi River and borders Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, has historically swung between parties, with President Trump winning it three times, while Barack Obama secured it twice.
Van Orden, 57, first elected to Congress in 2022, has embraced the MAGA movement that propelled his political career. He has maintained a high degree of loyalty to Trump, voting in line with the former president’s positions nearly all the time. During this election cycle, Van Orden campaigned alongside Trump and attended the former president’s midterm convention in Texas. He has also received support from prominent Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance and members of Trump’s Cabinet, such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The district remains highly competitive. Van Orden’s Democratic opponent, Rebecca Cooke, 38, who narrowly lost to him by three percentage points in 2024, has criticized his unwavering support for Trump and characterized him as out of step with many constituents. Cooke, a political consultant and nonprofit founder who grew up in the district, has campaigned extensively in both rural and urban parts of the district, emphasizing her roots in the agricultural community and her moderate stance.
Van Orden’s past includes his presence near the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, as part of a pro-Trump group attempting to challenge the 2020 election results, though he was not charged with any wrongdoing. More recently, he has sparked controversy by endorsing a former proposal by Hegseth to live-stream a military execution.
The district’s economy, heavily reliant on agriculture, remains a critical issue. Randy Schmidt, a large dairy farmer in Richland County who typically votes Republican, expressed frustration over federal policies on tariffs, the Iran war, and rising costs for fuel and fertilizer. Despite his dissatisfaction, Schmidt remains undecided between Van Orden’s and Cooke’s approaches, citing a lack of clear policy offerings and an overwhelming amount of negative advertising from both campaigns.
Van Orden has a role on the House Agriculture Committee, which supporters say provides him with an advantage in addressing local farming concerns. Bill Feehan, vice chairman of the Wisconsin GOP, praised his efforts in representing agricultural interests. Meanwhile, Cooke has also sought to appeal to rural voters, leveraging her personal background and promising to address the farm crisis.
The campaign has seen significant spending, with Cooke raising $3.4 million compared to Van Orden’s $1.3 million in the latest reporting period. The race has involved a barrage of negative advertisements, including AI-generated videos from Van Orden’s campaign that Cooke has described as defamatory, prompting legal complaints and public disputes.
Political analysts note that Van Orden’s strategy centers on mobilizing Republican turnout through his MAGA alignment, particularly among less frequent voters such as hunters. However, the broader national environment, with declining popularity for Trump, presents challenges for Republican candidates in swing districts like this one. The race, once rated as a toss-up by Cook Political Report, was recently shifted to “Leans Democrat.”
Van Orden acknowledged the difficult political climate during a recent debate, citing wars abroad and inflation as factors contributing to voter dissatisfaction. Nonetheless, he remains optimistic about rallying support, emphasizing the critical impact of voter turnout on the election outcome. Meanwhile, Cooke continues to push for a change in representation, focusing on issues important to both urban and rural constituents in the district.