Trump endorses Van Orden in key 2022 House race

STEVENS POINT – Former President Donald Trump is throwing his support behind the Republican candidate for Wisconsin’s 3rd District congressional seat being vacated by Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Kind.

Derrick Van Orden received the former president’s approval this week after the long-time incumbent announced he would not seek another term. Kind’s announcement on Tuesday created a wide-open race for a seat Republicans see as key to taking back the U.S. House of Representatives next year.

Trump also endorsed Van Orden in 2020 when the retired U.S. Navy Seal narrowly lost to Kind in a district that Trump won by four percentage points. The district runs through western and central Wisconsin from La Crosse to Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids.

Van Orden targeted Democratic economic and immigration policies in thanking Trump for the endorsement.

“I will work tirelessly to stop Nancy Pelosi’s tax and spend leadership in the House and I am looking forward to having you all on The Team,” Van Orden said in a statement.

Helen Kalla, deputy communications director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to elect Democrats in the House, criticized Van Orden for accepting the endorsement and his presence at the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.

“It’s no surprise that insurrectionist Derrick Van Orden is touting Trump’s endorsement after obeying his orders to trespass on the U.S. Capitol grounds in an attempt to violently overthrow the government and bragging about sexually harassing women servicemembers,” Kalla said in a statement.

Van Orden, while present at the events of Jan. 6, has denied involvement in the riot or moving past barricades, as reported by The Daily Beast.