Protesters Rally Against Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin Rapids

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WFHR, WIRI) – Waving flags and holding signs, more than 100 people protested U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R – 3rd District) in Wisconsin Rapids Thursday, Aug. 28.

The congressman represents Wisconsin’s third district, which covers a large area of western Wisconsin. That extends into central Wisconsin and includes part of Wood County. U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) was scheduled to appear at a Republican Party fundraising event on Thursday night with Van Orden at the Ridges Golf Course.

About 100 protesters spread out to three locations near the Ridges to be sure Van Orden would see them as he entered the private property. One location included the busy intersection of Highway 13 and County Highway Z.

Protesters’ Comments

The protest was organized by grassroots organization Rapids Response. It started with a small impromptu protest in early spring 2025 on the East Riverview Expressway bridge in Wisconsin Rapids. Now, the group holds twice-weekly protests near Aspirus Hospital and on the bridge.

“We are protesting that he voted for the ‘big beautiful bill’ which hurts lots of his constituents who need Medicare, Medicaid, all of that kind of stuff,” one protester said. “He is supporting the billionaires and not the people who live in his district.”

Candy Holbrook takes issue with Van Orden changing his stance and voting for the Trump administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill”, saying, “You know, I may be wrong bringing it up, but I know he has personal history with cancer in his family, and yet he signs the big beautiful bill axing NIH (National Institute of Health) and funds and research. It’s mind-boggling to me; I don’t get it. I don’t get it, but he’s not representing all of us.”

More protesters gathered near an entrance to the Ridges Golf Course on the corner of 20th Street S. and Murgy Drive. Several shared their dislike of the actions Van Orden has taken while representing the third CD. They mentioned him yelling at teenagers in the Capitol and being rude to his constituents. Last month, he interrupted a bipartisan interview with U.S. Rep. Marc Pocan (D – 2nd District) and U.S. Rep. Tony Wied (R – 8th District).

Army Veteran Alan Buchanan didn’t mince words.

“I really believe in freedom and liberty,” Buchanan said. “They’re closing stuff down that helps the little people more, and they’re giving money to the rich guys who don’t need it, and so I don’t like that, and Van Orden is, well, to me, he’s just another drunk.”

Buchanan said he’s lived in a free America for 77 years, and now he’s worried about a dictatorship. “I don’t understand why the Republicans are even letting Trump do this. What are they trying to gain? Because we’ve got the best democracy in the world and now they’re trying to get rid of it. What’s the deal with that?”

Marion Ruelle is 94 years old and felt compelled to come to the protest.

“I want to stand up and battle back against what’s happening to our country under Trump. I’ve been interested in politics since I was a teenager, and I’ve never seen anything like this. He is acting like a dictator,” Ruelle said. “I think that the population has to stand up and say what they believe in, and that they want to have fair government, and to represent us rather than have things shoved down our throat.”

Ruelle comes from a family of farmers. She believes Van Orden isn’t representing agriculture and farmers. 

“He’s not open to listening to his constituency,” Ruelle said. “He does not really represent the farmers.”

Van Orden’s Response

Van Orden posted a photo on X from inside the event Thursday. 

Holy Beans!

What a great crowd!

I am thankful that my friend and colleague, @Jim_Jordan came back to his old stomping grounds to help get the word out about the OBBL!

Great to see @SenatorTestin, @skrug75, @SenTomczyk, thank you gentlemen.

LET’S GET OUT THERE AND WIN! pic.twitter.com/56WvYLYLt9

— Derrick Van Orden (@derrickvanorden) August 29, 2025

While Van Orden didn’t directly address the protesters in Wisconsin Rapids, he did post about people who protested U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance’s visit to La Crosse. He reposted a message disparaging protesters who were on the wrong street, calling them “geriatric, obese, diabetic libs”. Van Orden added “It was so nice to see everyone lining the street, even if it was the wrong one, to greet me and @JDVance. And if we can encourage a little exercise, all the better.”

“I just don’t get where they come from, they put people down so much. They denigrate people so much, and I don’t get it,” Buchanan, the protester, said.

Epstein List

Wood County is on the far east side of the third congressional district. Sy Neville traveled to Wisconsin Rapids hoping to speak with Van Orden. 

“I live in Eau Claire, which is part of Van Orden’s congressional district, and I’ve been having a hard time getting a hold of him because he hasn’t been holding town halls, or when he has, they’ve been online,” Neville said. “It’s kind of been months now, and I think his people want to talk to him.” 

Neville had one big question he wanted to ask Van Orden: “Why’d you vote against your people?”

Neville said he wants to know more about the Epstein client list. During the campaign, U.S. President Donald Trump promised to release the list if he won the presidential election. This summer, the Department of Justice flip-flopped and said a client list doesn’t exist. 

“I want to know if he’s on the list… the Epstein list. I think that’s just a huge thing that the GOP itself is trying to cover up. We all know that that’s a big deal. It doesn’t matter who’s on the list per se, like party-wise, Democrat, Republican, whatever. Pedophilia is pedophilia, and that’s wrong.”