U.S. Congressman Derrick Van Orden Suggests First Gay President More Likely to Be Republican Than Democrat
U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden, a Wisconsin Republican, stated in Washington that the first openly gay president of the United States is «objectively» more likely to be a Republican rather than a Democrat. According to a report by The Washington Times, the lawmaker attributed his reasoning to the demographic makeup of both parties’ core constituencies and potential challenges Democrats face with culturally conservative voters.
The discussion on Capitol Hill was sparked by recent remarks from former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on NBC’s «Meet the Press», in which the prospective 2028 Democratic presidential contender expressed confidence that the American public is ready to break the historic barrier and elect an openly gay commander-in-chief. Responding to the interview, Van Orden remarked that a candidate’s sexual orientation does not influence his own judgment of their qualifications, but argued that Democrats face difficult electoral arithmetic. In his view, Democratic nominees depend heavily on near-unanimous support from African American voters, among whom, he claimed citing survey data, traditional social attitudes could create resistance toward a gay nominee.
In contrast, the Wisconsin congressman pointed to what he described as the meritocratic culture of the conservative movement, which he argued prioritizes competence and character over identity politics. Van Orden cited U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent — the first openly gay Cabinet secretary confirmed by the Senate under a Republican administration led by President Donald Trump — and noted his own endorsement by the Log Cabin Republicans, the nation’s oldest advocacy group representing LGBTQ conservatives.
The congressman’s comments drew mixed responses from political observers and researchers. Analysts note that during the 2020 Democratic primaries, Buttigieg’s early momentum in Iowa stalled in South Carolina partly due to low support among Black primary voters, an issue also reflected in select recent polls such as an Emerson College survey. Conversely, nationwide polling by Gallup and academic research from Northwestern University indicate that Democratic and independent voters as a whole are substantially more open to voting for a qualified gay candidate, whereas Republican voters still exhibit a measurable hesitation regarding a candidate’s sexual orientation.
Previously, Urania covered developments in Washington’s federal personnel and conservative politics, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s account of his appointment based strictly on professional credentials, the Log Cabin Republicans’ congressional endorsement slate, and the organization’s strategic realignment toward gay and lesbian civil liberties.
