Brown will wait and see on Van Drew defection

State Sen. Chris Brown won’t decide whether to back Rep. Jeff Van Drew until the second congressional district’s Republican county chairs pick their sides.

“It hasn’t even happened yet,” Brown said of the congressman’s impending defection. “So, I really have to wait to see what he says and what his positions are, but if the party welcomes him in, I certainly will welcome right along with them.”

On Saturday, the New Jersey Globe reported Van Drew’s chief of staff had begun informing members of his campaign and congressional staffs that he intended to join the Republican party.

He’s expected to make the switch in the next day or two.

So far, Van Drew has found mixed support among the district’s Republicans.

Some chairs, including Cumberland County GOP Chairman Michael Testa, an honorary chair of President Donald Trump’s New Jersey re-election campaign who now holds Van Drew’s seat in the State Senate, are waiting for queues from the White House.

Van Drew’s decision to defect was made after a personal meeting with Trump, and it’s likely the president will move to clear the Republican field for him.

The three Republican candidates that were in the race on Friday — David Richter, Brian Fitzherbert and Robert Patterson — aren’t suspending their bids.

Even if Van Drew wins the line in the seven counties that have not held nominating conventions, he may face backlash from Republican voters skeptical of his new party alignment.

It’s equally likely that they’ll accept Van Drew, who was a right-of-center Democrat, with open arms.

“We’re lucky in Atlantic County,” Brown said. “We have a large grassroots organization, and ultimately, it will be the members of our party who make that decision.”