Republican, NJ-02 . Congressman Van Drew Surface Authorization Requests, Congressman Van Drew Blasts the Biden Administration for Ignoring the Truth on Offshore Wind Development, Congressman Van Drew Announces Local Hearing on Offshore Wind Projects with Corresponding Legislation, Congressman Van Drew Named Vice Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Thats you know, theres a little bit of states rights here. each comment to let us know of abusive posts.Share with Us. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University and his Doctor of. During a debate with his opponent, Amy Kennedy, last month, Van Drew pushed back against the movement to defund the police,arguing that it means officers "wont get the equipment, the safety equipment, the vests, whatever else they need to make sure that they stay alive as they take bullets for you.. Reply STOP to cancel. Mrs. Van Drew was born Ricarda Rose Villani on March 18, 1954. key issues. To add to the drama, Van Drew's Democratic challenger is Amy Kennedy, a local South Jersey advocate who married into the storied political dynasty. Illinois Gov. He won the election as a Democrat but switched to the Republican Party last December. What Biden might try next if his student loan forgiveness plan is struck down. Formerly a Democrat, he has been a member of the Republican Party since 2020.. Before being elected to Congress, Van Drew held several public offices, including fire commissioner, town committee member, mayor of Dennis . With about three-fourths of the expected votes in Atlantic County counted, Mr. Biden had a 9,000-vote edge on Mr. Trump. Danielle Van Drew now Danielle Dick is married to Robert Grant Dick; she graduated in 2005, with a Bachelor of Arts in communications and public relations from Seton Hall University. Published. New Jersey voters weigh in on upcoming Election Day. January 6, 2020 / 12:21 PM Its been a controversial operation over time, but its never been actually proven vote fraud, said John Froonjian, director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University, in the states Galloway Township. https://vandrewforcongress.com/privacy-policy. Thats unbelievable, thats America., I dont want anyone to ever tell me that there isnt American exceptionalism, Van Drew continued. Former FBI agent Robert Turkavage, who ran and lost in the GOP primary in 2018 but switched parties to run as a Democrat this year, is also in the race. Ms. Kennedy, 42, carried only two of the eight counties Atlantic and Cumberland within the Second Congressional District, which stretches across the southern end of New Jersey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Delaware River. #NJ02https://t.co/3gBH3uWFk4, After the primary, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Callaway and Kennedys campaign had a falling out and then he crossed party lines and went to work for Van Drew. The Associated Press . https://t.co/lJHDCwWhS5. He is married with two children, two grandchildren, and two German shepherds. And, since theyre running in Southern New Jerseywhere old school power brokers and entrenched party machines still hold swaythere are other factors to consider. Callaway backed Kennedys campaign during her primary run against Bridget Callahan Harrison. Doing what's right shouldn't be complicated. The survey released Friday by Stockton University showed Kennedy with a statistically insignificant lead over Van Drew, the . And it kind of hurt because for years I have given everything that I could to my people in my district and that kind of hurt and it made me think a little bit, is this really what I want to do because there were other times in my life when I thought about this, Van Drew continued. Representative Joeseph Kenndedy III ran, and lost, in 2020 primary battle for a Senate seat. Van Drews voting record has put him in league with right wing, anti-gay radicals. In other races, Representative Mikie Sherrill, a first-term Democrat and former Navy helicopter pilot, beat Rosemary Becchi, a tax lawyer, and U.S. Chris Christie last month dropped his opposition in court to gay marriage after a Superior Court judge ruled gay couples must be allowed to get married starting Oct. 21, and after the state Supreme Court not only refused Christies request to delay the date, but indicated that he had little chance in succeeding in appealing the lower courts decision. I believe that the Green New Deal is something that we should never, ever, even think about doing, Van Drew continued. Van Drew has raised about $2.9 million this election cycle, and had about $925,000 cash on hand as of Sept. 30, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Van Drew, Who Switched Parties and Backed Trump, Keeps N.J. House Seat, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/06/nyregion/kennedy-van-drew-party-new-jersey-election.html. Van Drew added that former Republican President Ronald Reagan was one of his favorite presidents and that Reagans comment about how the Democrat party left Reagan also rang true for him. Mr. Van Drew had claimed victory nearly three days earlier, on election night, with tens of thousands of ballots still to be counted. Required fields are marked *, Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance, Don't forget to check the Photo Gallery & Video. So, how much is Jeff Van Drew worth at the age of 69 years old? As for the coronavirus, Van Drew does not support a national mask mandate. Van Drew is a dentist having run his own practice for more than 35 years before retiring upon his election to Congress. Van Drews victory ended the familys tenure in Washington for the first time since President John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress immediately following World War 2. One of Callaways specialties is the controversial-but-legal-in-New Jersey tactic of messengering mail-in ballots to voters (a messenger can only carry three ballots; for this strategy to be effective, a small army of deliverers must be deployed). He also said during the debate that while abortion services should notbe eliminated, he could notsupport late term abortions. "So, what Wyoming needs to do and North Dakota needs to do may be very different than what the city of Washington or the city of New York has to do. He was first elected to Congress in 2018 as a Democrat, but changed parties in Dec. 2019 after falling out with the Democratic Party over his refusal to vote to impeach President Donald Trump. So, I have a few words I had few points that I really wanted to make today. Here's my advice: Be true to who you are now, not who the Democrats used to be, he concluded. According toa Monmouth University Polllast month,nearly half of voters in the district arebothered by Van Drew being elected as a Democrat but now running for reelection as a Republican, with 35 percent saying it bothers them a lot and 12 percent a little, while 51 percent say it does not bother them. The United States of America is an exceptional nation and I will continue to work with anyone willing to put party aside to fight for a strong America and a strong South Jersey, Mr. Van Drew said. He introducedthe Health Smart Air Travel Act in October, which if enacted would seek to developnew technologies that mitigate virus transmission in airports and passenger aircrafts. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Van Drew, who served nearly two decades in the state Legislature, was never popular with the party's progressive base in a state that's turned increasingly blue. Please enter valid email address to continue. THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. Rep.-elect Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., joined 'Fox & Friends First' to discuss gridlock in the House over Kevin McCarthy's bid to become the next House speaker. Her son Jeff, holds a BA With Honors from Rutgers University and my Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School. Philip D. Murphy said on Thursday would exceed four million and amount to the highest in the states history. Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat, was re-elected in his race against the Republican candidate, Rik Mehta, a biotech entrepreneur. Thats a very Republican thing by the way, Trump interjected as the room erupted in laughter. Texas GOP votes to censure Rep. Tony Gonzales over support on gun, same-sex Texas property tax bill excludes divorced, LGBTQ couples from getting relief, Michael Steele on Marjorie Taylor Greene: Just shut the hell up, Judiciary Democrats go after GOP whistleblowers in FBI probes, Haley to hit Trump on spending record in closed-door Saturday speech, Trump reigns supreme at a diminished CPAC, Mike Lindell calls DeSantis a Trojan Horse, New storm to bring yet more heavy snow to California, Watch live: Trump, Bolsonaro and more take the stage on Day 3 of CPAC, Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Mr. Callaway, who served more than three years in prison for bribery, specializes in delivering mail ballots from low-income precincts in and around Atlantic City, a Democratic stronghold. Msg&Data Rates May Apply. Its who I always was but there was more tolerance of moderate Democrats, Blue Dog Democrats, conservative Democrats, and I think that is going away. Then, in a scene that would be played repeatedly on news feeds for days to come, he turned to the President and said earnestly, You have my undying support.. Mr. Van Drew was able to overcome the stigma of switching parties, buoyed by Mr. Trumps warm embrace in a district that the president won by about five points in 2016. It was held by Republican Frank LoBiondo for 12 terms before Van Drew won it in 2018. However, a victory against his Democratic challenger Amy Kennedy is likely to be more of an uphill battle, in part because of his party switch. Van Drew said that far-left Democrats came to him and told him that they were disgusted with him for supporting the two bills that promoted faith and patriotism. You may unsubscribe at any time. The race was the last New Jersey congressional contest to be decided, and one of only two in the state won by a Republican. Local observers attributed much of that falloff to the work of Craig Callaway, a notorious political operative whom Mr. Van Drew had paid more than $100,000 for his get-out-the-vote efforts. Eight months later, Van Drew was given a coveted speaking slot at the Republican National Convention. (P. Kenneth Burns/WHYY) Van Drew made the case that he is working for the district during a debate at Stockton University on Oct. 19 . The 2nd District includes all or parts of eight counties and stretches from suburban Philadelphia along the Delaware River in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east. Van Drew said that he has thought about switching parties before when he was in the New Jersey state Senate when he voted on two bills that he described as being wonderful.. Van Drew continues to distinguish himself as New Jerseys Trump-Endorsed Conservative Congressman for having the courage to stand strong in support of President Trump and his America First legacy. Congressman Van Drew has repeatedly voted to DEFEND our 2nd Amendment, PROTECT unborn children, and AGAINST vaccine mandates, passports, and tracking databases, AGAINST raising the debt ceiling and budgeting via continuing resolution, and AGAINST the massive tax increases and social spending in Bidens so called Build Back Better agenda. pic.twitter.com/z4ZDMTFCzD, (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) December 19, 2019, Michael Reynolds/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Night Shift Dr. View all Scott Wolf pictures. Soon after Mr. Van Drew switched parties with a pledge of undying support for Mr. Trump the president came to the district for a raucous, campaign-style rally that solidified the lifelong Democrats standing in the eyes of many Republicans.