For the last year, Democratic and Progressive organizers have been mounting press conferences, protests, rallies and other actions in order to try to force Rep. Derrick Van Orden to protect ACA subsidies and prevent insurance premiums in the district from skyrocketing. And on Thursday, January 8, this long-term and concerted effort to force DVO to represent his constituents succeeded, when Rep. Van Orden broke with his party and voted to extend the ACA subsidies for three years. This break with his party would not have been possible without this year-long effort by Democratic and Progressive activists who reminded Rep. Van Orden that he would pay a massive political price if he did not vote to help Wisconsin families with their health care costs. Weekly protests in Eau Claire, La Crosse, and Stevens Point, along with other protests and rallies in counties across the 3rd CD paved the way for this vote. These protests will continue until Rep. Van Orden does more to protect our health care.
Derrick Van Orden did not want to vote for this ACA subsidy extension. Says William Garcia, Chair of the 3rd CD Democrats “In 2025, he was the deciding vote in the US House to pass the “Big, Beautiful Bill for Billionaires” which took away those subsidies in the first place. He refused to sign the discharge petition to force the ACA Subsidy vote in the first place. He continually calls the ACA the “Unaffordable Health Care Act”. Only when he was forced to take the vote, and with assurance that the bill would not pass the US Senate, did he vote to protect Wisconsin families. He did not want to vote for this bill, but the pressure placed on him by constant protests and rallies by Democratic and Progressive organizers gave him no choice.”
And the fight is not over. Per William Garcia, “In 2026, we will not let up the pressure. We will continue to rally and organize and fight to ensure Derrick Van Orden votes for the interests of the 3rd CD, not far-away billionaires. And in November, we will ensure we have a representative who actually wants to help their constituents by electing a Democrat to the 3rd CD. Until then, Democrats will continue to force Derrick Van Orden to do the right thing.”
