William Orton (September 22, 1948 – April 18, 2009) was an American Democratic politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah from 1991 to 1997.

Orton was also a founder and member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of United States Congressional Representatives from the Democratic Party who identify themselves as moderates and conservatives.

[7] Following his departure from Congress, Orton resumed the practice of law and was a member of the legal counsel of the plaintiff in Idaho Potato Growers v. Rubin, a case Clinton v. City of New York in which the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 was ruled unconstitutional.

While serving in congress, Orton argued on the floor of the US House of Representatives that, as a "budget hawk", he was in favor of the President having the line item veto.

[8] Following his work on Clinton v. City of New York, Orton joined Advantage Associates, a consulting firm made up of former members of congress.

[11] Orton died in an ATV accident on April 18, 2009, at Little Sahara Recreation Area in Juab County, Utah.

[12] Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. ordered flags flown at half-staff on April 24, the day of Orton's funeral.

[2] In 2018, Orton's widow Jacquelyn ran for Utah State House, coming fourth in the Democratic primary.