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Jeff Van Drew

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Jeff Van Drew
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2019
Preceded byFrank LoBiondo
Member of the New Jersey Senate
from the 1st district
In office
January 8, 2008 – December 31, 2018
Preceded byNicholas Asselta
Succeeded byBob Andrzejczak
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 1st district
In office
January 8, 2002 – January 8, 2008
Preceded byJohn C. Gibson
Succeeded byMatthew W. Milam
Personal details
Born (1953-02-23) February 23, 1953 (age 71)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseRicarda Van Drew
EducationRutgers University, New Brunswick (BS)
Fairleigh Dickinson University (DMD)
WebsiteHouse website

Jefferson H. Van Drew (born February 23, 1953) is an American politician, serving as the U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 2nd congressional district since 2019. He served as the New Jersey State Senator from the 1st Legislative District from 2008 to 2018. He previously represented the same district in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2002 to 2008. He is a dentist by occupation.[1][2]

Van Drew was the Democratic nominee in New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the 2018 election. He was elected with 53% of the vote against Republican nominee Seth Grossman, who received 45% of the vote.[3]

Early life and education

Van Drew was born in New York City. Van Drew graduated with a B.S. from Rutgers University and received a D.M.D. degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University.[2]

Dental career

Van Drew operated a dental practice in South Jersey for 30 years before retiring.[4]

Earlier political career

Van Drew served on the Dennis Township Committee in 1991, and as Mayor from 1997 to 2003 and from 1994 to 1995. Van Drew served on the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1994 to 1997. He was a Dennis Township Fire Commissioner from 1983 to 1986.[2]

In 1994, as a Cape May County Freeholder, Van Drew made support for a local community college a major campaign issue. In 2002, ground was broken on the site of the future Atlantic Cape Community College campus in Cape May County.[5]

New Jersey Senate

On November 6, 2007, Van Drew won his bid for a seat in the New Jersey Senate, defeating Republican incumbent Nicholas Asselta.[6] In November 2011, Van Drew defeated Republican challenger David S. DeWeese by a margin of 24,557-20,857.[7] He was reelected in the 2013 elections defeating Upper Township Republican businesswoman Susan Adelizzi Schmidt by 20 points.[8]

For the 2018-19 session, Van Drew served in the Senate on the Community and Urban Affairs Committee (as Chair), the Military and Veterans' Affairs (as Vice-Chair), the Joint Committee on Housing Affordability and the Intergovernmental Relations Commission.[2] In 2008, Van Drew sponsored the Fair Market Drug Pricing Act to establish the "New Jersey Rx Card Program to reduce prescription drug prices."[9]

District 1

Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 1st Legislative District for the 2018-2019 Legislative Session are:[10][11]

U.S. House of Representatives

2018 election

Main article: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey § District 2

New Jersey's 2nd congressional district had been represented by Republican Frank LoBiondo since 1995, who served 11 terms before announcing his retirement on November 7, 2017. The district is the southernmost in New Jersey and the state's largest, encompassing rural farms from Salem County to the Jersey Shore and Atlantic City. President Barack Obama won the district in 2008 and 2012, and President Donald Trump won in 2016. Upon LoBiondo's retirement announcement, The Cook Political Report changed the district's rating in the 2018 midterms from "Safe Republican" to "Toss-Up".[12][13][14]

On November 29, 2017, Van Drew announced he would run for the open congressional seat, aiming "to bring economic opportunity and good jobs to South Jersey."[15] He was endorsed by the eight county chairs in the district, as well as New Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross.[14] In February 2018, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee included Van Drew in their Red to Blue program, which provided resources and donors to candidates in districts that were targeted to be flipped from Republican to Democrat.[16] In the primary campaign for the seat, Van Drew faced William Cunningham, Tanzie Youngblood,[12] and Nate Kleinman.[17] Sean Thom dropped out ahead of the June 5, 2018 primary.[18] As of May 16, Van Drew had raised $412,555 for his campaign.[19] On June 5, 2018, Van Drew won the Democratic primary with 55.4% of the vote. On the same night, former Atlantic County Freeholder Seth Grossman won the Republican nomination.[20]

Following Van Drew's win in the primary, The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball changed the rating of the district to "Likely Democratic".[21][22] In the November 5 midterms, Van Drew ultimately won 52.9% of the vote, one of four New Jersey congressional districts to flip from Republican to Democratic. This made Van Drew the first Democrat to represent NJ-02 since 1995.[23]

Tenure

Van Drew said during his campaign that, if elected, he would not support Nancy Pelosi to be the next Speaker of the House.[24][25] His first vote in Congress was "no" for Speaker which was recorded as "present" under the rules.[26]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

In his run for state senate in 2007, Van Drew remarked, "I’m proud to be a Democrat because to me it always represented working people, middle class people and issues of compassion." Van Drew represented Republican-leaning Cape May County in the assembly, and accordingly took politically moderate positions.[29]

During his congressional primary campaign, Van Drew had a 100% rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA).[30] In 2007 and 2008, Van Drew received $2,700 from the National Shooting Sports Foundation Inc., and in 2008, Van Drew received $1,000 from the NRA.[31] In 2010, Van Drew sponsored legislation that would allow residents to carry a handgun after going through a background check, taking a firearms training course, passing a test, and paying a $500 fee.[32] In 2013, Van Drew voted as the only Democrat against a series of 10 gun control bills following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.[33] Van Drew also voiced support for expanded background checks and the regulation for silencers. Despite his pro-gun stance, the gun-control group Moms Demand Action designated Van Drew a "Gun Sense Candidate".[31]

In 2012 as state senator, Van Drew voted against a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New Jersey, one of two Democrats in opposition.[34] In 2013 during his reelection campaign, the non-profit New Jersey Family First sent out flyers stating that Van Drew "supports traditional marriage and letting the people vote on the definition of marriage," while his Republican opponent Susan Adelizzi Schmidt was in favor of same-sex marriage.[35]

Also in 2012, Van Drew voted against raising the state minimum wage above the federal minimum wage of $7.25, the lone Democrat to dissent.[36] On his campaign website, Van Drew highlighted his support for fully funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and protecting net neutrality.[37] Van Drew also supported a state constitutional amendment requiring parental approval for abortions, which he later withdrew. As state senator, he also withdrew sponsorship of a bill to reinstate the death penalty in the state, which he previously favored.[37][38]

Van Drew opposes offshore drilling on the Atlantic coast; in 2019 he joined Republican John Rutherford to introduce the Atlantic Coastal Economies Protection Act, which would prohibit seismic air gun testing in the Atlantic Ocean.[39] The state senator previously voted to withdraw from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative,[37] and supported the construction of a pipeline through the Pinelands.[40]

In October 2019, he announced that he would oppose the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump.[41] On October 31, 2019, he was one of two Democrats to vote against the rules for an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.[42][43] The vote was partially seen as a re-election strategy.[44] In December 2019 it was reported that he is considering switching to the Republican Party.[45][46]

Personal life

Van Drew is a resident of Dennis Township, New Jersey.[47] Van Drew has served as president of the New Jersey Dental Society and a board expert of the New Jersey Board of Dentistry.[48]

Electoral history

United States House of Representatives elections, 2018[49]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Van Drew 125,755 52.9%
Republican Seth Grossman 110,491 45.2%
Libertarian John Ordille 1,631 0.6%
Independent Steven Fencihel 1,046 0.4%
Independent Anthony Parisi Sanchez 964 0.4%
Independent William R. Benfer 816 0.4%
Total votes 240,703 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican
June 5, 2018 Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Van Drew 15,654 55.4
Democratic Tanzira "Tanzie" Youngblood 5,417 19.2
Democratic William Cunningham 4,739 16.8
Democratic Nate Kleinman 2,443 8.6
Total votes 28,253 100
New Jersey State Senate elections, 2017[50]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Van Drew (incumbent) 35,464 64.8%
Republican Mary Gruccio 18,589 34.0%
Independent Anthony Parisi Sanchez 652 1.2%
Democratic hold
New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013[51]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Van Drew (incumbent) 34,624 59.4%
Republican Susan Adelizzi Schmidt 22,835 39.2%
Independent Tom Greto 825 1.4%
Democratic hold
New Jersey State Senate elections, 2011[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Van Drew (incumbent) 24,557 54.0
Republican David S. DeWeese 20,857 45.9
Democratic hold
New Jersey State Senate elections, 2007[52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Van Drew 28,240 55.7
Republican Nicholas Asselta (incumbent) 22,469 44.3
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. ^ Memorandum of Agreement Between the New Jersey Pinelands Commission and Dennis Township
  2. ^ a b c d Senator Van Drew's Legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed March 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "New Jersey Election Results: Second House District". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "Congressman Jefferson Van Drew". Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  5. ^ Vince Conti (April 13, 2016). "County Struggled To Create Campus, Vision Took Form". Cape May County Herald. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  6. ^ Tamari, Jonathan. "Beck wins; Dems control both houses", Asbury Park Press, November 6, 2007. Accessed November 6, 2007. "Democrats, however, won two Senate seats in other traditionally Republican districts with victories by Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, and Assemblyman Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, who ousted Sen. Nicholas Asselta, R-Cumberland, and Sen. James 'Sonny' McCullough, R-Atlantic."
  7. ^ a b Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2011 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011. Accessed January 7, 2012.
  8. ^ Friedman, Matt (November 5, 2013). "Jeff Van Drew holds on to N.J. Senate seat in Cape May County". NJ Advance Media. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  9. ^ Senate, No. 1162, New Jersey Legislature, introduced February 14, 2008. Accessed June 26, 2018. "Sponsored by: Senator Jeff Van Drew... Synopsis: 'New Jersey Fair Market Drug Pricing Act'; establishes New Jersey Rx Card Program to reduce prescription drug prices."
  10. ^ Legislative Roster 2018–2019 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed March 22, 2018.
  11. ^ District 1 Legislators, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed March 22, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Matt Friedman (April 15, 2018). "How progressives got steamrolled in New Jersey". Politico. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  13. ^ Jonathan D. Salant (November 7, 2017). "New Jersey Republican lawmaker Frank LoBiondo retiring". NJ.com. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Jonathan D. Salant (November 7, 2017). "This N.J. Democrat will try to flip a seat in Congress after LoBiondo retirement". NJ.com. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  15. ^ Joseph P. Smith; Anthony V. Coppola (November 29, 2017). "Van Drew will run for Congress in 2018". The Vineland Daily Journal. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  16. ^ Bridget Bowman (February 20, 2018). "DCCC Announces Six More 'Red to Blue' Candidates". Roll Call.
  17. ^ "Congressional midterm election guide: Who's running in the June primary".
  18. ^ Writers, NICHOLAS HUBA & JOHN DeROSIER Staff. "Van Drew to seek LoBiondo's Congressional seat; Guardian considering run on GOP side". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
  19. ^ Jonathan D. Salant (July 9, 2018). "House Republicans withdraw support of N.J. candidate after report says he shared racist screed". NJ.com. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  20. ^ "New Jersey Primary Election Results". The New York Times. June 11, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  21. ^ David Wildstein (June 8, 2018). "Cook Political Report: Van Drew likely winner, Sherrill vs. Webber leans Democrat". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  22. ^ David Wildstein (June 28, 2018). "Sabato Crystal Ball upgrades Dem chances in two NJ districts". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  23. ^ "Jeff Van Drew wins New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District seat". The Washington Post. November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  24. ^ Joseph P. Smith (June 23, 2018). "Van Drew joins list of Democratic congressional hopefuls opposing their party leader". Vineland Daily Journal. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  25. ^ Michelle Brunetti (November 19, 2018). "Van Drew signs Dems letter opposing Nancy Pelosi for speaker". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  26. ^ Brunetti Post, Michelle (January 3, 2019). "Van Drew votes no on Nancy Pelosi for House Speaker, but she wins". The Press of Atlantic City.
  27. ^ Brunetti Post, Michelle (January 18, 2019). "Congressman Van Drew appointed to Agriculture Committee". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  28. ^ "Natural Resources Committee Members".
  29. ^ Eric Avedessian (October 25, 2007). "Democrat Van Drew looking at ethics reform, illegal immigration and government funding" (PDF). Cape May Star and Wave. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  30. ^ Amy S. Rosenberg (April 9, 2018). "N.J. Congressional candidate won't have to show hand on state gun bills before primary". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  31. ^ a b Amy Rosenberg (April 30, 2018). "Parkland survivor David Hogg calls out South Jersey congressional candidate Jeff Van Drew". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  32. ^ Matt Friedman (September 26, 2010). "N.J. senator pushes law allowing residents to carry handguns". NJ.com. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  33. ^ "Democratic Senator Jeff Van Drew Strays From Party Position on Gun Control". NJTV. May 30, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  34. ^ Matt Friedman; MaryAnn Spoto (February 14, 2012). "New Jersey Senate approves gay marriage bill". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  35. ^ Matt Friedman (November 4, 2013). "Anti-gay marriage group helps Democratic state senator". NJ.com. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  36. ^ Minhaj Hassan (November 29, 2012). "Van Drew: Only thing worse than minimum wage is no job at all". The Observer. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  37. ^ a b c Daniel Marans (June 6, 2018). "Conservative Democrat Wins Primary In New Jersey House Seat". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  38. ^ "NJ-02: Abandoning his "moderate" persona, Van Drew takes leftward turn on death penalty, pro-life issues". Save Jersey. February 14, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  39. ^ Brunetti Post, Michelle (February 11, 2019). "Van Drew introduces bill to ban seismic testing in Atlantic". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  40. ^ Matt Friedman (February 21, 2018). "Van Drew's gun record riles progressives in Democratic primary for LoBiondo seat". Politico. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  41. ^ Rambaran, Vandana. "New Jersey Democrat bucks House trend, says he likely won't back impeachment resolution", Fox News, October 30, 2019. Accessed October 30, 2019.
  42. ^ House approves impeachment rules, ushering in new phase of inquiry, CBS News, Grace Segers, Kathryn Watson and Stefan Becket, October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  43. ^ Edmondson, Catie (October 31, 2019). "Meet the Democrats Who Broke Ranks on Impeachment". The New York Times. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  44. ^ https://www.njspotlight.com/2019/11/van-drews-no-on-impeachment-inquiry-leaves-room-to-walk-it-back/
  45. ^ Martin, Jonathan; Corasaniti, Nick (2019-12-14). "Representative Jeff Van Drew, Anti-Impeachment Democrat, Considering Switching Parties". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  46. ^ "Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  47. ^ Assembly Member Jeff Van Drew profile, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 8, 2007.
  48. ^ Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey: 2004 Edition, p. 248. Lawyers Diary and Manual, LLC, 2004. ISBN 9781577411871. Accessed August 9, 2018. "He is a former president of the Dental Society and a board expert of the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry."
  49. ^ https://www.njelections.org/assets/pdf/election-results/2018/2018-unofficial-general-election-results-us-house.pdf
  50. ^ "Official List Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2017 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 29, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  51. ^ "Official List Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/05/2015 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 4, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  52. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-08-03. Retrieved 2011-12-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) "New Jersey Senate, (retrieved on 12/12/11).
New Jersey General Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 1st district
2002–2008
Served alongside: Nicholas Asselta, John C. Gibson, Nelson Albano 		Succeeded by
New Jersey Senate
Preceded by Member of the New Jersey Senate
from the 1st district
2008–2018 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 2nd congressional district
2019–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States Representatives by seniority
424th 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeff_Van_Drew&oldid=930791763"