3 Democrats are running to challenge Congressman Jeff Van Drew, who became Republican after impeachm
Source: CBS News
3 Democrats are running to challenge Congressman Jeff Van Drew, who became Republican after impeachment vote
BY GRACE SEGERS, AARON NAVARRO
JULY 7, 2020 / 1:13 PM / CBS NEWS
Several Democrats are facing off in a contentious primary in New Jersey's second congressional district to run against Congressman Jeff Van Drew in November. Van Drew was elected in 2018 to represent the south Jersey district as a Democrat, but switched parties in late 2019 after voting against impeachment and has pledged his "undying loyalty" for President Trump.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has endorsed Amy Kennedy, a mental health advocate and educator who is married to former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, a son of the late Senator Ted Kennedy. Kennedy also has the support of the Atlantic County Democratic Party, the largest county in the district.
The other leading candidate in the primary is Brigid Callahan Harrison, a political science professor who has the support of both of two of Murphy's political rivals, state Senate president Steven Sweeney and local Democratic powerbroker George Norcross. Harrison has also been endorsed by the state's two U.S. senators, Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, who are both Democrats. Will Cunningham, who lost to Van Drew in the 2018 Democratic primary, is also running.
Kennedy has looked to portray herself as the grassroots candidate, painting Harrison as propped up by the South Jersey Democratic "machine" and Norcross, who helped Van Drew flip the district in 2018. "The same New Jersey machine that sent Van Drew to Congress as a 'Democrat' doesn't want Amy to win this race," a fundraising email from the campaign read.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-jersey-2nd-congressional-race-jeff-van-drew-democrats/
Jeff Van Drew
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