Mullock raises $200k in first week running for NJ-2

Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock has already raised $200,000 after entering the race for New Jersey’s 2nd congressional district a week ago, his campaign announced today.

Mullock launched his campaign far later than several other Democrats running to unseat Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis), giving him less than four months to build up a serious effort before the June primary. His early fundraising haul, though, indicates that at a minimum he’ll be financially competitive with his top Democratic foes.

“Our campaign isn’t powered by Washington insiders or party bosses. It’s powered by South Jersey families who are ready for new leadership,” Mullock said in a statement. “People are stepping up across the 2nd district because they’re tired of watching politicians talk about the stock market while families worry about rent, groceries, and health care. This is about sending someone to Washington who understands what it actually costs to raise a family here.”

Of Mullock’s four Democratic primary foes, the best-funded by far is Bayly Winder, a former USAID official who has raised just over $450,000 for his campaign in total; similar to Mullock, Winder raised $170,000 in his first week as a candidate. Tim Alexander, who previously ran for the same seat in 2022 and 2024, is also a major contender for the nomination, but he’s raised just $37,000 so far.

Winder and Alexander have been competing for local endorsements for months, but Mullock got in the race with the biggest name of all potentially on his side: South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross. While Norcross hasn’t said anything publicly, Mullock has endorsements from the chair of the Camden Democratic organization, a top Norcross ally.

Van Drew, for his part, has just under $1.2 million on-hand to defend himself in a red-leaning South Jersey district that remains a substantial reach for any Democratic candidate.

This story was updated at 12:12 p.m. with a correction: Van Drew has nearly $1.2 million in his campaign account, not $750,000. It was updated again on March 4 at 3:38 p.m.: Cumberland County Democratic Chair Kevin McCann was originally included on Mullock’s endorsement list, but two weeks later disputed that he ever made such an endorsement.