I Am Hoping That Jefferson Van Drew Leaves The Democratic Party-- It's Very Important That He Does

Last month we asked when Jeff Van Drew would leave the Democratic Party and join the GOP. Looks like that idea is spreading in New Jersey. Keep in mind that of the 234 Democrats in the House, there can only be one "worst" and ProgressivePunch rates that one Jefferson Van Drew, South Jersey Blue Dog who was aggressively recruited by the Einsteins at the DCCC, even though because he was the worst member of the New Jersey state Senate. Van Drew's lifetime crucial vote score is 20.00%. By way of comparison, Michigan Republican-turned-Independent Justin Amash's score is 32.89%. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) has a 28.87%, Thomas Massie's (R-KY) is 28.25%) and John Katko's is 21.33%. The DCCC is working to defeat Amash and the 3 Republicans and to prop up Van Drew-- even though the Amash and the 3 Republicans vote more progressively than Van Drew. Funny world, isn't it?

After longtime Republican incumbent Frank LoBiondo retired last year, NJ-02 should have been an easy win for Van Drew. But he only took 52.9% against Seth Grossman, a clod-like GOP opponent, who spent just $299,475 to Van Drew's $1,877,531. Van Drew had about $1.1 million in outside spending from the DCCC and other groups that support conservative Democrats. Grossman had zero dollars from the NRCC or from an other groups. Even the National Association of Realtors, a traditional GOP donor, ignored him and spent massively on helping Van Drew.

There are 8 counties or parts of counties in Van Drew's district. Atlantic County is, by far, the most populous. It's performance in his race was D+15 and without it he would have lost. The chairman of the Atlantic County Democratic Party, Michael Suleiman, wrote Van Drew a letter this week that if he doesn't vote for impeachment-- he has said he's not going to-- he would have a tough time winning a primary. Suleiman told him that “a majority of my (county committee) members were very upset” with his vote against opening an impeachment inquiry five days before the 2019 general election.

“Candidly, it was a big distraction for my candidates and municipal leaders in Atlantic County during the tail end of the general election cycle,” Suleiman said. “Now that the 2019 election is over and the House seems poised to take action, I am imploring you to vote in favor of impeachment.”

Van Drew is almost certain to face a primary challenge if he votes against impeaching Trump and Suleiman appears to suggest that he can’t guarantee the freshman 2nd district congressman would secure organizational support for re-election when Democrats hold their county convention in March.

Brigid Callahan Harrison, a prominent political science professor who lives in Atlantic County is already mulling a congressional bid.

“Next year, as we are defending two freeholder seats, a constitutional officer, and Democratic majorities in two municipalities, a ‘no’ vote on impeachment will suppress Democratic turnout down-ballot, which my organization cannot sustain,” Suleiman told Van Drew. “Atlantic County Democrats have a tough time as it is facing 100 years of Boardwalk Empire; we cannot afford to have Democrats sit on their hands in a presidential year when we usually perform well.”

Van Drew has further angered local Democrats after making national television appearances crowing about his refusal to support the impeachment inquiry.

Trump has tweeted his appreciation to Van Drew three times, raising speculation in the district that the congressman might switch parties and seek re-election as a Republican.

Van Drew told CNN on Thursday that he intends to vote against all articles of impeachment.

“All of us should be on the right side of history during this very difficult time in our nation’s history,” said Suleiman. “Charlie Sandman lost the same seat that you hold for being on the wrong side of the Nixon impeachment, and I do not want to see our party face a similar fate.”

Suleiman told Van Drew that while New Jersey’s 2nd district is “moderate at best,” it is still more moderate than the legislative district he won seven times while running for the Assembly and State Senate.

“Voting for impeachment will undoubtedly hurt your standing with some Republican voters. However, as someone who has been in elected office for 30 years and has built up so much goodwill in South Jersey, I find it hard to believe that voters that have known you for decades will ditch you over one voted,” the Atlantic County Democratic leader said. “If anyone has banked the political capital necessary to take a hard vote, it is you.”

There is also friction between Van Drew and Democratic leaders in Cumberland County who have placed some of the blame for losing a State Senate seat and two Assembly seats in the 2017 mid-term elections on the congressman.

Two sources confirmed to The Globe that Cumberland County Freeholder Jack Surrency, a former two term Bridgeton councilman and former school  board member, is being encouraged to take on Van Drew.

In 2018, Van Drew flipped the 2nd district House seat after GOP Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-Ventnor) retired after 24 years in Congress.

He won the Democratic primary with 57% of the vote and won 62.5% in Atlantic County. Van Drew won the general election by a 53%-45% margin after national Republicans refused to support the GOP nominee, former Atlantic County Freeholder Seth Grossman.

The 2nd has 17,235 more Democrats than Republicans and gave Trump a 50%-46% win over Hillary Clinton in 2016.

InsiderNJ, a political news site, reported on Thursday that West Cape May Commissioner John H. Francis III was considering a primary challenge to Van Drew.  Francis comes from a borough with just 1,024 residents and is still in his first term as a local official.

Two Democratic assemblymen, Vince Mazzeo (D-Northfield) and Adam Taliaferro (D-Woolwich), have said they are not interested in running for Congress.

Mazzeo refused to close the door on entering the race if Van Drew decides not to seek re-election.

So far, three Republicans have entered the race to run against Van Drew: former Hill International CEO David Richter, former Trump administration appointee Robert Patterson, and former Atlantic County Young Republican Chairman Brian Fitzpatrick.

Joseph “Rudy” Rullo, who sought the Republican nomination for governor in 2017, is also considering a congressional run.

Van Drew constantly uses Republican talking points to belittle and demean Democratic values and principles and finds a spiritual-spiritual home at Fox News. He doesn't belong in the House Democratic caucus-- and the people responsible for recruiting him to run don't belong in the DCCC. It is widely rumored in Congress that he will vote against impeachment and then leave the party, just as Blue Dogs have done in the past. It's what Blue Dogs do. It's who they are. Please consider helping progressive candidates who are running for Congress in districts with Blue Dog and New Dem incumbents. You can do that right here. And as soon as there's a progressive opponent confirmed to be running against Van Drew in NJ-02-- either in the primary or in the general if he decides to run as a Republican-- he or she will be added to the list.