Democrats Target Van Drew's Jersey Shore Seat as Election Nears

Democrats are campaigning hard to unseat Rep. Jeff Van Drew in New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District, deploying senators, congressmen and outside money against the seven-term Republican before Tuesday's election. U.S. Senator Cory Booker and Rep. Donald Norcross have appeared in the district for Democrat Zack Mullock, the mayor of Cape May. A liberal super PAC is spending $1 million against Van Drew, and the New Jersey teachers' union has sent money to Mullock's campaign.

The district runs along the Jersey Shore from Cape May County north through Atlantic County, taking in Atlantic City and Pleasantville. Van Drew, 73, a dentist and former state lawmaker, switched from Democrat to Republican in 2020 over the party's push to impeach President Trump, and he voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results. He has served as a link between Trump and congressional Republicans, and the president sought his input on an executive order affecting offshore wind farms and offered him a Cabinet post.

Van Drew won his 2024 race by 18 points and the one before that by 17. Cook Political Report rates the seat solid Republican, noting the district voted for Trump by 13 points. The Center for Politics at the University of Virginia moved its rating from safe to likely Republican last week. National handicappers say a large shift in voting would be needed to put the district in play.

The Democratic case against Van Drew rests on his vote for a tax and spending law. That law reduced Medicaid funding by $1 trillion over 10 years and cut $285 billion from food aid while providing tax cuts. The 2nd District had about 162,900 Medicaid enrollees in 2025, which was 20% of the population, according to KFF. Norcross said of the vote, "I don't know how he did that," and added of constituents, "They're going to remember that."

Van Drew said he voted to protect the program from fraud while keeping benefits for people who qualify. "Not for seniors, not for kids, not for pregnant women, not for young families," he said. Suzan DelBene, who leads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, called him a "spineless politician who prioritizes tax breaks for the wealthiest few while gutting health care and raising costs for his constituents."

Money favors the incumbent. Through Oct. 22, the last date campaigns report spending before Election Day, Van Drew's campaign had raised about $2.3 million. Mullock had raised about $855,000, including about $136,000 in the first half of October. At a debate last week at Stockton University, Mullock questioned Van Drew's support for U.S. foreign policy and asked in closing remarks, "are you better off than you were two years ago?"

Van Drew's campaign said he is running hard regardless of Democratic activity. "The DCCC has about a third of House Republicans on one of their silly wishlists or another, but Congressman Van Drew doesn't take anything for granted and will continue to campaign as hard as he always has," campaign manager Ron Filan said in early October.

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said in May that Van Drew's district could be competitive without new maps. "Van Drew is weak," she said, pointing to Atlantic City and Pleasantville. Census records show Black and Latino residents make up more than 60% of Atlantic City and more than 80% of Pleasantville.

Voters in Bergen County and across New Jersey will cast ballots Tuesday. In 22 midterm elections from 1934 to 2018, the president's party lost an average of 28 House seats, according to the American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In 2022, Democrats lost 10 seats while Joe Biden held the White House.

Van Drew said in December 2025 that he worked with House members to extend federal tax subsidies for health insurance before January increases. "We've got to try," he said at the time. "I can only do what a human being can do."