Sabato’s moves Van Drew district to “leans Democrat”

Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s (R-Dennis) re-election chances got a downgrade from Sabato’s Crystal Ball Monday.

The race rater moved his second district seat from the “toss-up” category to the “leans Democrat” category.

Van Drew, a first-term congressman who was elected as a Democrat then defected to the Republican party in December, faces a challenge from former teacher Amy Kennedy, who is married to former Rhode Island Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy.

Sabato’s ratings for other New Jersey House races remain unchanged. The seventh district, where Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) faces a challenge from State Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-Westfield) “leans Democratic.”

The race rater says the third district, where Rep. Andy Kim (D-Marlton) is running for re-election against former Hill International CEO David Richter, is “likely Democratic.”

All other races are safely Democratic save for the fourth district, which Sabato’s rates as safely Republican.