WASHINGTON, DC — End Citizens United, a leading national anti-corruption organization, today named Rep. Derrick Van Orden to its 2026 list of Most Corrupt politicians, citing a record of taking money from corporate special interests and advancing policies that have raised costs on families across Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District.
“Rep. Van Orden has built a record of taking money from corporations and special interests and then using his votes to protect them as they raise prices on families in the district,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “From higher health care costs and rising energy bills to more expensive groceries and housing, the consequences of those decisions show up in what people can afford and how far their paychecks go. In a Congress defined by corruption, Rep. Van Orden stands out for going above and beyond to keep his biggest donors happy. We’re going to make sure voters know about this betrayal and hold him accountable at the ballot box in November.”
ECU’s Most Corrupt designation highlights politicians whose actions consistently align with the interests of their biggest donors over their constituents. Rep. Van Orden has taken $142,500 in corporate PAC money over his career, of which $37,500 came in during 2025. He consistently puts industry interests over constituent voices, voting for measures that put money into the pockets of corporate titans while cutting Medicaid and SNAP benefits affecting tens of thousands of people in his district. Rep. Van Orden was also photographed at the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6th, 2021 and allegedly spent campaign funds to travel there.
Rep. Van Orden also received an F on ECU’s Anti-Corruption Scorecard for the 119th Congress. The scorecard grades members of Congress based on their votes and co-sponsorship of key legislation and procedural actions that would crack down on corruption in Washington, advance campaign finance reform, and protect and expand voting rights.As part of the Most Corrupt List, ECU is highlighting some of the most egregious examples Rep. Van Orden’s record on a dedicated website. The group will also conduct sustained earned media and direct voter education and engagement. ECU will continue working to hold him accountable throughout the election and make corruption a defining issue in his reelection campaign.
