Van Drew won’t pursue NJEA endorsement

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) will not seek the New Jersey Education Association’s support this year, declining an invitation to participate in the teachers’ union’s endorsement process.

“While I have been appreciative of the NJEA’s support, or at least neutrality, in some previous years, it has become increasingly clear that to seek your endorsement at this time would almost certainly be a fruitless endeavor given the current unfortunate realities,” Van Drew said in a letter to the NJEA today.

Van Drew, a four-term congressman from New Jersey’s 2nd district, faces Democrat Zachary Mullock, the mayor of Cape May.

The NJEA had historically backed Van Drew when he served in the state legislature and in his 2018 run for Congress, but stopped after he switched parties in late 2019.  Instead, the union backed Amy Kennedy against him in 2020 and Joe Salerno in 2024.

“I have a long record of supporting organized labor and our educators going all the way back to my days as a Cape May County Commissioner when I led the fight to establish a community college there,” Van Drew stated.  “Over my career in public service, there are hundreds of examples where I supported organized labor and even walked the picket line with them.  That always has and always will be the case – our rank and file educators in the classroom will always have my support.”

NJEA President Steve Beatty said that in races where union members may choose to endorse, all candidates are invited to take part in a nonpartisan screening process.

“Those screening committees make their recommendations based on policy positions and proven track records, not party affiliation. It’s always better when all candidates participate so that they have the opportunity to endorse the candidate who best aligns with their priorities and values,” said Beatty.  “Our members take NJEA’s process seriously and give full and fair consideration to every candidate who chooses to participate. In some cases, they choose to endorse multiple candidates who meet those criteria. However, our rules are clear that only candidates who participate in the process can be considered for endorsement.”

Last June, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli said he would participate in the candidate screening process if the NJEA would agree to livestream the interview so that all union members could watch.  The union said no.

Despite his rejection of an interview with the teachers’ union, Van Drew pledged to continue to work with individual educators.

“My door will always be open in the hope that we can find common ground in the future,” he said.

Editor’s note: this story was updated on June 24 at 12:52 PM with comment from Beatty.