Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) has a new message for moderate voters in his battleground district: He’s no extremist, despite his opponent’s claims to the contrary.
Van Orden, a controversial freshman who narrowly flipped Wisconsin’s 3rd District last cycle, has been promoting his efforts to work across the aisle and hasn’t shied away from criticizing some of his far-right colleagues on the campaign trail. Van Orden is facing a competitive challenge by Democrat Rebecca Cooke in the R+4 seat.
“How I’ve chosen to serve in Congress is to govern,” Van Orden told us. “If people come to me with a good idea, we do it regardless of political party affiliation… just because you’re a Democrat doesn’t mean you can’t have a good idea.”
But it’s unclear if this pitch will work. Despite Van Orden’s quiet legislative record as a team player, he’s also become known for temperamental behavior while serving in office.
Polls show the race in a dead heat, although Van Orden maintains a slight edge, according to the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter.
Cooke’s fundraising has been impressive but Van Orden has a significant cash-on-hand advantage heading into the final weeks of the cycle. Cooke had just over $360,000 cash on hand as of Oct. 16, while Van Orden has more than $1 million.
Battle of the mods: Van Orden is playing up his commitment to being a bipartisan member of Congress, highlighting several bills he’s co-sponsored with Democratic colleagues. The majority of them revolve around veterans issues.
The former Navy SEAL is sharing a nonpartisan chart put together by the Lugar Center that shows him as the Wisconsin delegation’s most bipartisan lawmaker since Rep. Mike Gallagher resigned.
Van Orden has also been vocally critical of conservative hardliners who have held up legislation this Congress and his eight GOP colleagues who voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
The Dem attack: Cooke, a Blue Dogs-backed candidate, has been hitting Van Orden on issues like abortion and his conduct in Congress. In a previous interview, Cooke also touted her working-class roots.
Cooke has repeatedly blasted Van Orden for his public outbursts, including an incident where he cursed at Senate pages in the Capitol rotunda. Van Orden also shouted at President Joe Biden during this year’s State of the Union.
Cooke also has sought to tie Van Orden to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Van Orden has said he attended former President Donald Trump’s rally that day but left before the violence began.
Van Orden dismissed Cooke’s criticism of his conduct, invoking his military experience in how he handles himself on Capitol Hill.
“I speak very bluntly and plainly because I am a salty old war dog who sees this country going into the drain,” Van Orden said. “You can’t smile your way out of that. You got to go in there, stand up and stand firm or you’re going to get run over.”
