Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) says voters took to some of his core issues: a promise to protect social security, a move to secure the U.S. southern borders, and a pledge to fight rising utility costs.
The results: Van Drew was re-elected to a fourth term in Congress this week, by seventeen percentage points, carrying all six counties in New Jersey’s 2nd district against a Democratic self-funder, Joe Salerno. Donald Trump carried his district.
“I feel vindicated when people said that I was too conservative. Too pro-Trump,” he said.
Van Drew wasn’t surprised by how well Trump did across the state – he trails Kamala Harris by six points, 52%-46%, after losing New Jersey by sixteen points in 2020.
“You could feel it,” stated Van Drew, saying elected officials need to “get on the street” and find out what their constituents are feeling.
Now, the Republican congressman – one of three in the delegation – hopes the analysis of this week’s election will convince people that his home state is purple, not blue.
“New Jersey is not a mini-California,” Van Drew said. “If there’s anything the election showed is that this state is more moderate.”
Among the issues that matter, Van Drew says, is immigration – something that drove many Hispanic voters to the Trump column.
He pointed to the Biden administration’s decision to send unauthorized migrants to Atlantic City as a factor in Trump’s four-point win there.
“People are really tired of it,” Van Drew said. “They are tired of working their back off and then seeing the government give debit cards to illegals.”
As Trump’s New Jersey campaign chairman – he and Trump bonded after his party switch in late 2019 – Van Drew said he expected to weigh in on who New Jersey’s new U.S. Attorney will be but stopped short of naming candidates.
“It’s more than just my decision,” he said. “I’ll meet with those that I think are truly capable, but the deciding factor is going to be the President.”
Van Drew said he’d support Republican congressional candidates Billy Prempeh and Darius Mayfield joining the Trump administration in some capacity.
“They really do represent something we need in the Republican Party,” stated Van Drew.