The New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein reported just before Thanksgiving that Democratic leaders in New Jersey’s competitive 2nd Congressional District had warned freshman Rep. Jeff Van Drew that he could lose important support from county parties in next year’s primary if he opposes impeaching Donald Trump, and one prominent party leader is now making his displeasure with the incumbent known.
Wildstein published a letter sent to Van Drew by Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman, whose county has by far the largest in this South Jersey seat, and Suleiman did not pull any punches. Suleiman told the congressman that “a majority of my (county committee) members were very upset” with him for opposing the impeachment inquiry just before last month’s state elections, adding, “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 continued by urging Van Drew to support impeachment, saying, “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 acknowledged that the 2nd District, which voted for both Barack Obama and Donald Trump, was “moderate at best,” but he told Van Drew “I find it hard to believe that voters that have known you for decades will ditch you over one vote.” It doesn’t sound like Suleiman’s arguments have swayed Van Drew at all, though. On Thursday, three days after the letter was dated, Van Drew publicly reaffirmed his opposition to impeachment.
County party endorsements are a big deal in New Jersey primaries, and if Suleiman’s Atlantic County ends up backing another candidate over Van Drew, that would be very bad news for the incumbent. Notably, Atlantic County made up 41% of the total vote in last year’s Democratic primary for the 2nd District, considerably more than any of the district’s other seven counties.
Wildstein also reports that party leaders in Cumberland County are also displeased with Van Drew. Cumberland County contains some of Van Drew’s old 1st Legislative District, where all three Democratic incumbents lost their seats in last month’s legislative elections, and Wildstein says that local leaders partially blame the congressman for the defeat. Cumberland County made up another 16% of the total primary vote here last year.
It doesn’t sound like there any many party leaders in the remaining six counties that are rushing to back Van Drew, either. Wildstein writes that the congressman asked county chairmen to sign a letter supporting him, but he scrapped the idea after too many of them told him no.
Van Drew currently doesn’t face a serious primary opponent, but both Montclair State University professor Brigid Callahan Harrison and West Cape May Commissioner John Francis are publicly considering challenging him, while Cumberland County Freeholder Jack Surrency is also reportedly thinking it over. Wildstein writes that, if Van Drew did lose renomination, he’d be the first sitting House member to do so “for non-redistricting reasons” since 1958.
There’s also been some speculation that Van Drew could switch parties and join the GOP, though the congressman himself hasn’t shown any signs that he’s looking to bail. If Van Drew did join Team Red, though, he likely still would be in for a competitive primary. Wealthy businessman David Richter, who is the frontrunner for the GOP nod, responded to the chatter by saying, “Hypothetically, if he switches and becomes Republican, I’m in the race, and I’m going to beat him in the primary.”
Cape May County Republican Chairman Marcus Karavan, whose county cast just under a quarter of the vote in the 2018 GOP primary, also said Van Drew should stay a Democrat.
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