Republican vice presidential nominee, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, speaks at AmeriLux in De Pere, Aug. 28, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
PLOVER, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Vice President JD Vance visited a competitive Wisconsin congressional district Thursday.
The stop in central Wisconsin came two days after President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address — and eight months before the midterm elections.
“I want to call out Rep. Derrick Van Orden. My dear friend Derrick.”
In 2022, Van Orden became the first Republican to win Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District in 26 years.
“Derrick was talking with me backstage. He was like, ‘We have to do a little video together, just so we can get it out there for the congressional campaign.'”
With control of Congress up for grabs this fall, political attention on this area will likely continue.
In 2024, Van Orden beat Democrat Rebecca Cooke by less than three points.
Both are running for the seat again.
The Cook Political Report considers this House race – and 17 others – a tossup.
“Wisconsinites are really struggling and they deserve independent leadership, and not somebody who’s simply a rubber stamp,” U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, said.
Baldwin criticized Van Orden when speaking to reporters before Vance’s event.
“I’m going to say welcome to Wisconsin, Mr. Vice President, and while you’re here, I really hope that you will listen to the people who feel like they’ve been left behind by your administration.”
Vance also echoed President Trump’s State of the Union themes about affordability and border security.
The vice president ended by again addressing the midterms.
Vance also answered questions about data centers, rural hospitals and agriculture.
“The question in November, is do we give power to the people who fight for corruption, who fight for fraud, who fight for illegal aliens or do we give the government to the American citizens for whom it was designed and for whom it was created?”
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