United States Representative and Republican candidate for U.S. House in Wisconsin's 3rd district.
Case
Rebecca Cooke demands that Derrick Van Orden stop posting AI impersonations of her. Van Orden dismisses the demand, while his campaign calls her response a tantrum in its own release.
Case
U.S. Southern Command says confirmed intelligence showed a vessel it struck in the Caribbean on September 19 was involved in narco-trafficking, killing four. It did not release the evidence. A U.N. expert and U.S. critics dispute the legal basis for such strikes.
Case
An issue tracker recording where members of Congress and 2026 midterm candidates stand on the unauthorized Iran war, based on their votes on war-powers resolutions, campaign statements, and public remarks.
Role at the time: U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District and Republican candidate
Statement summary
Van Orden tells the recipient to put the form in the circle file and carry on. His post quotes an account pointing to Cooke's cease-and-desist announcement.
“Please fill out the appropriate form and file it in the circle file. Carry on.”
He responds to the demand by telling the recipient to discard it, downplaying its significance.
Role at the time: U.S. Representative, Wisconsin 3rd district
Statement summary
Derrick Van Orden voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 93, the House resolution directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.
“On Agreeing to the Resolution: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”
A nay vote opposed the resolution directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, allowing U.S. military operations in the war to continue.
Role at the time: U.S. representative from Wisconsin, speaking in an interview with Newsmax
Statement summary
In a Newsmax interview on September 2, Van Orden said of "the missile strikes against these drug boats" that "Those are saving Americans' lives", and that "More Americans have died from drug overdoses than all of the casualties from every war we have ever fought combined".
“the missile strikes against these drug boats. Well, guess what? Those are saving Americans' lives. More Americans have died from drug overdoses than all of the casualties from every war we have ever fought combined.”
Measured against the campaign the September 19 strike belongs to and the government's stated basis that those aboard are narcotraffickers, Van Orden defends the campaign of missile strikes on drug boats as saving American lives and cites overdose deaths as the reason. His defense rests on the effect of the campaign, not on evidence about any particular vessel.
Role at the time: U.S. Representative for Wisconsin at the statement date.
Statement summary
Van Orden defends Trump's military authority and criticizes congressional restrictions as weakening national security.
“President Trump acted fully within its constitutional authority and in accordance with the War Powers Resolution of 1973.”
The case asks about support for the war in Iran. Van Orden says Trump acted within his constitutional authority and the War Powers Resolution of 1973 and calls the House vote to restrict the President foolish and politically driven, so we used Defended or excused.
Statement dates: June 3, 2026 to September 30, 2026
Statement dates: September 30, 2026
Statement dates: September 2, 2026
Statement dates: September 30, 2026
Statement dates: September 2, 2026
Statement dates: September 2, 2026
Statement dates: June 3, 2026 to September 15, 2026
Statement dates: September 2, 2026
Statement dates: June 3, 2026 to September 15, 2026
