Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) said Wednesday he is not focusing on his reelection campaign, less than seven months before the midterms.

In a video shared by Charlotte Scott of Spectrum News on the social platform X, Van Orden said on the Capitol steps that a Democratic-backed redistricting initiative that passed in Virginia on Tuesday was “completely disingenuous.”

When asked whether Republicans in the Texas Legislature should have started the redistricting battle last summer, the Wisconsin Republican said he pays “attention to Wisconsin” and is not focused on things he cannot control.

“I’ve got a lot of friends here in Congress that are Republicans in Virginia, and if this goes through, I’ll miss them,” Van Orden continued. “But I don’t even know if I’m going to get reelected. I don’t really follow that either, sorry to disappoint you guys.”

“I’m just a horrible politician, I guess,” he added.

Van Orden, a retired Navy SEAL, was first elected to represent the Badger State’s 3rd Congressional District in 2022, defeating Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff (D) by less than 4 percentage points.

Two years later, he defeated Democrat Rebecca Cooke by less than 3 percentage points.

Cooke, a former board member of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, is running again this time around. As of March 31, her campaign had more than $4.4 million on hand, while Van Orden’s had more than $3.8 million, according to their quarterly filings with the Federal Election Commission.

The primary is set for Aug. 11. Democrats Emily Berge, Melvin Marin and Rodney Rave are also running.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates Van Orden’s bid for a third term in the lower chamber as a “Toss Up.” That makes it one of 16 House races with that distinction, with 13 of those seats occupied by Republicans.

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