Van Orden launches 2nd run against Kind for Congress

A possible rematch for Congress in the 3rd District? 

Republican Derrick Van Orden has announced a second campaign against Democratic Rep. Ron Kind of La Crosse.

Van Orden, a retired Navy Seal, narrowly lost to Kind in November in his first race for office. Kind won with 51% of the vote compared with nearly 49% for Van Orden.

Van Orden, an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump, has kept a high profile since the defeat, traveling to Washington, D.C., on the day of the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6. Van Orden insisted that he was there to peacefully protest and he condemned the violence.  Kind has been elected to 13 terms in Congress since 1996.  He has never faced the same November opponent twice.   

Derrick Van Orden released the following statement announcing his candidacy:

“The people of Wisconsin’s 3rd district are the hardest working, patriotic, freedom loving Americans I have ever had the honor to meet.

They know they are not being represented by Ron Kind and have expressed their concern to me that they see the country they love being destroyed by the socialist policies that he has voted for.

I’m running to bring Wisconsin values back to Washington DC, stand up for our Constitution, and truly represent the people of the 3rd District instead of becoming rich in office by protecting personal power as my opponent has done for over two decades. Now is the time for a change in leadership in Western Wisconsin, and I will defeat Ron Kind in 2022.”

Meanwhile, Kind himself claims he hasn’t made his plans for 2022 yet, and says there’s lots of time to decide.

“The last thing I think anyone wants to hear is about another campaign that might be coming up next year, so I’m going to continue to focus on my work right now, but no decisions have been made about 2022, that’s for sure,” Kind tells WIZM News.