NJ-2: Van Drew considering switching parties over impeachment

[Woody]

Source: https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/van-drew-will-face-primary-challenge-if-he-votes-against-trump-impeachment-brigid-harrison-mulls-house-bid/

Freshman Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis) will almost certainly face a Democratic primary challenge if he votes against impeaching President Donald Trump and could lose contests for organization lines at county conventions early next year, six Democratic leaders told the New Jersey Globe.

One possible challenger is Brigid Callahan Harrison, a prominent Montclair University political science professor with strong times to New Jersey’s 2nd district.  Harrison told InsiderNJ that she would think about running.

Harrison says that Van Drew read his district incorrectly.

“People want to know whether or not the allegations made about the president were true,” Harrison said.

If Van Drew votes against the Trump impeachment, some Democrats suggested that he should either retire or switch parties.

[Calthrina950]

Source: https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/van-drew-will-face-primary-challenge-if-he-votes-against-trump-impeachment-brigid-harrison-mulls-house-bid/

Freshman Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis) will almost certainly face a Democratic primary challenge if he votes against impeaching President Donald Trump and could lose contests for organization lines at county conventions early next year, six Democratic leaders told the New Jersey Globe.

One possible challenger is Brigid Callahan Harrison, a prominent Montclair University political science professor with strong times to New Jersey’s 2nd district.  Harrison told InsiderNJ that she would think about running.

Harrison says that Van Drew read his district incorrectly.

“People want to know whether or not the allegations made about the president were true,” Harrison said.

If Van Drew votes against the Trump impeachment, some Democrats suggested that he should either retire or switch parties.

This district is rapidly trending Republican, and a primary challenge like this could very well help the Republicans regain it sooner rather than later.

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

Source: https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/van-drew-will-face-primary-challenge-if-he-votes-against-trump-impeachment-brigid-harrison-mulls-house-bid/

Freshman Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis) will almost certainly face a Democratic primary challenge if he votes against impeaching President Donald Trump and could lose contests for organization lines at county conventions early next year, six Democratic leaders told the New Jersey Globe.

One possible challenger is Brigid Callahan Harrison, a prominent Montclair University political science professor with strong times to New Jersey’s 2nd district.  Harrison told InsiderNJ that she would think about running.

Harrison says that Van Drew read his district incorrectly.

“People want to know whether or not the allegations made about the president were true,” Harrison said.

If Van Drew votes against the Trump impeachment, some Democrats suggested that he should either retire or switch parties.

This district is rapidly trending Republican, and a primary challenge like this could very well help the Republicans regain it sooner rather than later.

Trending Republican from 2018, you mean?

[Xing]

I’d support a primary challenge to Van Drew. The idea that being Republican lite is a huge electoral bonus to Democrats has far more evidence against it than for it (I know that the usual suspects will come after me for having the audacity to question this obvious proven truth, but whatever, come at me.) This is going to be a hard district to defend either way, and Van Drew hasn’t exactly proven himself to be a remarkable candidate.

[DrScholl]

If Democrats can get their map chosen in redistricting they could easily draw a bluer seat by putting Ocean County in NJ-4 (why it is split three ways makes no sense). 2020 is the last time the current map will be used. With that being said I don't think Van Drew will lose the primary unless things get much, much worse for Trump where he can't avoid voting for impeachment (at which point he would probably have to vote to impeach). Not that things aren't bad enough from what the testimony has demonstrated.

I can understand why someone would challenge Van Drew based on impeachment. We aren't talking about a partisan issue, but the rule of law.

[free my dawg]

I doubt it. The Machine will still be behind Van Drew.

[Pericles]

Pretty weird that Van Drew is opposing impeachment when Democrats in more Republican districts are supporting it.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Pretty weird that Van Drew is opposing impeachment when Democrats in more Republican districts are supporting it.

Yes, due to alot of the women like Spanbanger are freshmen and Pelosi has them locked down

[Oryxslayer]

Can you imagine a primary succeeding in New Jersey, otherwise known as machine-land? Especially when JVD was recruited by Norcross? I can't.

[Roll Roons]

Can you imagine a primary succeeding in New Jersey, otherwise known as machine-land? Especially when JVD was recruited by Norcross? I can't.

Exactly. Besides Pascrell vs. Rothman in 2012 (when they were drawn into the same district), when was the last time an incumbent congressman lost a primary in Jersey?

[ON Progressive]

I support this primary challenge of course, even if it has roughly zero chance of succeeding.

[brucejoel99]

Can you imagine a primary succeeding in New Jersey, otherwise known as machine-land? Especially when JVD was recruited by Norcross? I can't.

Exactly. Besides Pascrell vs. Rothman in 2012 (when they were drawn into the same district), when was the last time an incumbent congressman lost a primary in Jersey?

13th district: Cornelius Gallagher in 1972, & before that, Alfred Dennis Sieminski (by none other than Gallagher) in 1958.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Good.

[Zaybay]

https://twitter.com/LizzieKFoley/status/1203173274211037186

[lfromnj]

Fun fact about NJ2nd.
It always flips whenever its open and it hasn't flipped in a century with an incumbent(obviously a useless statistic considering ME 2 flipped last year)

[S019]

Van Drew is probably starting as an underdog and as much I want impeachment to happen, this is a necessary step for him to win a district that is trending Republican. His margin against Grossman was unimpressive and primarying him will probably make it that much harder to hold. If he is primaried, this race probably moves from Tossup to Lean R. Now, if Van Drew was in a D-trending Clinton district, he'd have no excuse, but here he definitely has the excuse of electability.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Pretty weird that Van Drew is opposing impeachment when Democrats in more Republican districts are supporting it.

That's why this is so infuriating. His race against Grossman last year was closer than people thought, but he still won.

It's not even clear that voters will be voting on impeachment this time next year. He is better off just sticking to principles that he should have if representatives like Cunningham and Horn do. He's a coward. So maybe this primary challenge will wake him up.

[Landslide Lyndon]

The most damning fact about Van Drew isn't his refusal to impeach Trump. It's the fact that he is attacking his caucus and undermining its unity.
He could oppose impeachment but also acknowledge Republicans' ridiculous, unpatriotic behavior. Yet he only criticizes his fellow Democrats, parroting Fox News talking points. If his goal is to become Trump's Joe Lieberman then he shouldn't complain if he finds himself without a job this time next year.

[TrendsareUsuallyReal]

The most damning fact about Van Drew isn't his refusal to impeach Trump. It's the fact that he is attacking his caucus and undermining its unity.
He could oppose impeachment but also acknowledge Republicans' ridiculous, unpatriotic behavior. Yet he only criticizes his fellow Democrats, parroting Fox News talking points. If his goal is to become Trump's Joe Lieberman then he shouldn't complain if he finds himself without a job this time next year.

Yeah. It’s one thing to vote against it quietly like Collin Peterson and likely Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema in the Senate, but the big difference with Van Drew is that he is actively undermining Democrats by going on FOX and giving Tump cover. The Democrats would be better off without a renegade Democrat in this seat sowing disunity in the party and giving Republicans ammo. I’d vote for a Republican over Van Drew at this point for that reason alone. I can forgive Manchin, Sinema and Peterson because at least they aren’t being dicks about it

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

The most damning fact about Van Drew isn't his refusal to impeach Trump. It's the fact that he is attacking his caucus and undermining its unity.
He could oppose impeachment but also acknowledge Republicans' ridiculous, unpatriotic behavior. Yet he only criticizes his fellow Democrats, parroting Fox News talking points. If his goal is to become Trump's Joe Lieberman then he shouldn't complain if he finds himself without a job this time next year.

Can't wait for the NJ for Van Drew party to enter congress

[Yellowhammer]

I’d support a primary challenge to Van Drew. The idea that being Republican lite is a huge electoral bonus to Democrats has far more evidence against it than for it (I know that the usual suspects will come after me for having the audacity to question this obvious proven truth, but whatever, come at me.) This is going to be a hard district to defend either way, and Van Drew hasn’t exactly proven himself to be a remarkable candidate.

Van Drew isn't a "Republican-lite," he's an extremely radical democrat who is simply having a rare moment of sanity.

[lfromnj]

I mean NJ 2nd isn't even trending super Republican by comparing presidential trends from 08(12 numbers are bad because of Sandy.) its only like a 6 R trend.

[Yellowhammer]

I’d support a primary challenge to Van Drew. The idea that being Republican lite is a huge electoral bonus to Democrats has far more evidence against it than for it (I know that the usual suspects will come after me for having the audacity to question this obvious proven truth, but whatever, come at me.) This is going to be a hard district to defend either way, and Van Drew hasn’t exactly proven himself to be a remarkable candidate.

Van Drew isn't a "Republican-lite," he's an extremely radical democrat who is simply having a rare moment of sanity.

Or a Democrat who knows that he’s running in a district that’s trending strongly Republican. I wish I could say that the voters in MN-07 and NJ-02 are smart enough to see through this farce, but I can’t.

JVD could eke out a win again, but something tells me Peterson's goose is cooked regardless of what he does.

[Landslide Lyndon]

I’d support a primary challenge to Van Drew. The idea that being Republican lite is a huge electoral bonus to Democrats has far more evidence against it than for it (I know that the usual suspects will come after me for having the audacity to question this obvious proven truth, but whatever, come at me.) This is going to be a hard district to defend either way, and Van Drew hasn’t exactly proven himself to be a remarkable candidate.

Van Drew isn't a "Republican-lite," he's an extremely radical democrat who is simply having a rare moment of sanity.

Aren't you tired of constantly trolling in the most transparent way possible?

[Orser67]

Van Drew reportedly considering switching parties, at Trump's urging.