MADISON, Wis. — On Friday, a new report detailed Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s blatant flip-flop on the Affordable Care Act. Van Orden only voted with Democrats to continue ACA tax credits after they had already expired and Wisconsinites saw their health care costs skyrocket. Despite this eleventh-hour vote, he continues to oppose the ACA and previously voted to end the very tax credits that would keep coverage affordable for thousands of families.
WKOW: Republican Rep. Van Orden changes position, votes to extend ACA subsidies
By: Caroline Dade | 1/9/26
Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden, who represents Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, was one of 17 Republicans who crossed the aisle Thursday to vote with House Democrats in favor of a bill that extends Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years. For Van Orden, that vote marked a drastic shift in his public views on the tax credits, which he previously criticized.
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Democrats have been advocating for extending the subsidies for months, which is partially why the government shut down in the fall. During the shutdown, Van Orden vocally opposed extending ACA subsidies, including in an interview with 27 News in October.
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When the shutdown ended, Van Orden put out a statement accusing Democrats of trying to protect “partisan pet projects and reckless spending.” Democrats repeatedly said they voted against government funding bills that did not extend health care subsidies because they were worried about rising costs and affordability.
Right now, Van Orden is running for re-election, and many political experts expect the race to be very tight. He won his races in 2022 and 2024 by fewer than 12,000 votes.
Van Orden’s Thursday vote to extend ACA subsidies runs counter to a position he’s taking on the campaign trail ahead of the 2026 midterms.
On his campaign website, Van Orden advocates for repealing the Affordable Care Act, which he refers to as Obamacare.
“Derrick will work to make sure individuals with preexisting conditions are protected when Obamacare is fully repealed and a new system is implemented allowing for true competition in healthcare, driving costs down,” the site reads.
In an emailed statement late Friday evening, Van Orden’s communications director said the congressman continues to oppose the Affordable Care Act.
