Congressman Van Orden launches re-election bid at La Crosse office

Western Wisconsin Congressman Derrick Van Orden is 13 months into his term of office, and has officially started his campaign for a second term.

Republican Van Orden launched his 2024 run in La Crosse on Saturday, speaking to dozens of supporters at his local campaign office on Losey Boulevard. The Prairie du Chien area resident spoke of work he has done in Washington to support farmers. He is a member of the House Agriculture Committee.

Van Orden and backers have pointed out that his predecessor, Democrat Ron Kind, did not serve on the ag committee during his 26 years in Congress.

“You have to work hard. No more complaining,” said Van Orden.

He added that the Republican majority in the House has “stopped so much buffoonery” from President Joe Biden and other Democrats in the three years since Biden became president.

Van Orden also urged his supporters to vote Republican in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race, and “push them over the line” to get incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin out of office “and take the Senate back.”

Van Orden was joined at the La Crosse rally by Eric Hovde, who is considered a likely candidate for the Senate race.