Ex-assemblyman endorses Bayly Winder in NJ-2

Former Assemblyman Edward Salmon (D-Millville) has been out of elected office for more than 30 years, but he’s wading back into the political arena today to endorse Bayly Winder for Congress against Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis).

“Bayly took an oath to serve our country. He’s just the type of leader South Jersey needs,” Salmon said in a statement. “He’s building a campaign rooted in service and common sense – and he’s the right person to take on Jeff Van Drew.”

Salmon, a former mayor of Millville and county freeholder, was elected to represent deep South Jersey’s 1st legislative district in 1988; he was the first Democrat ever elected to represent the Cape May and Cumberland County district, and remained the only one until then-Democrat Jeff Van Drew began his legislative career in 2001. Salmon left the legislature in 1991 after he was appointed as president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities by Gov. Jim Florio.

Winder, a former official at the United States Agency for International Development, is one of four Democrats hoping to flip the 2nd congressional district next year. Also running are Tim Alexander, who ran for the same district in both 2022 and 2024, and newcomers Bill Finn and Terri Reese.

The 2nd district, which re-elected Van Drew by 17 points last year, is not seen as a top Democratic flip opportunity in 2026, but Winder and other local Democrats are working to change that. A national Democratic group polled the district earlier this year in an effort to highlight Van Drew’s vulnerabilities, and Democrat Mikie Sherrill lost the district by a closer-than-expected margin in the race for governor this month.