Updated Oct 16, 2026, 2:28 PM ET
Jeff Van Drew
Republican · 3 November 2026

Jeff Van Drew

U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 2nd congressional district (since 2019)

Jeff Van Drew, a Republican who has represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district since 2019 after switching from the Democratic Party, seeks re-election in 2026 against Democrat Zack Mullock, the mayor of Cape May.

2026 Races & Market Forecast

Live TruthIndex™ and prediction market consensus for races contested by Jeff Van Drew.

Latest coverage

Live News

Recent media coverage for Jeff Van Drew.

  1. Pensilvania y Nueva Jersey tendrán contiendas cerradas en distritos con enclaves puertorriqueños

    Candidatura en Pensilvania (PA-02): Jessica Arriaga, puertorriqueña nacida en North Philadelphia, es la rival republicana de Boyle en las elecciones de medio término.

  2. The National Police Association Backs the Fight Against Fentanyl Act

    The National Police Association (NPA) endorses the Fight Against Fentanyl Act (H.R. 10678), introduced by Rep. Tom Kean (NJ-07) and co-sponsored by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), and Rep.

    nationalpolice.orgGarbarino
  3. House Democrats add eight seats to midterm target map month before election day

    The article reports that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) added eight target districts to its midterm map, aiming to flip seats currently held by Republicans or an open seat.

    JingletreeMeleSchmidtKnott
  4. About The Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Board’s Endorsements

    The Philadelphia Inquirer piece discusses whether a large Democratic wave in New Jersey could defeat Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R) in NJ-02.

    Philadelphia Inquirer
Born
February 23, 1953
Birthplace
New York City
Education
Eastside High School, Paterson
St. Mary's High School, Perth Amboy (1971)
Rutgers University (Bachelor of Science)
Fairleigh Dickinson University (Doctor of Dental Medicine)

Biography & Campaign Analysis

Background

Jeff Van Drew was born on February 23, 1953, in New York City. He attended Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, for two years before transferring to St. Mary's High School in Perth Amboy, where he graduated in 1971 alongside future congressman Chris Smith. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University and a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and operated a dental practice in South Jersey for 30 years before retiring.

Career

As a Democrat, Van Drew held several local offices, serving as a Dennis Township fire commissioner from 1983 to 1986, on the township committee, as mayor of Dennis Township from 1994 to 1995 and from 1997 to 2003, and as a Cape May County freeholder. He represented the 1st Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2002 to 2008 and in the New Jersey Senate from 2008 to 2018, having defeated Republican incumbent Nicholas Asselta in 2007.

When Republican Frank LoBiondo retired from the 2nd district, Van Drew won the 2018 Democratic primary with 55.4% and defeated Republican Seth Grossman 52.9% to 45.2%.

In late 2019 he opposed the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump, voted against both articles of impeachment on December 18, 2019, and announced the next day that he would join the Republican Party, formally switching on January 7, 2020.

As a Republican he defeated Democrat Amy Kennedy in 2020 by 52% to 46%, Tim Alexander in 2022 with 59.3%, and won again in 2024 with 58.1%. On January 6, 2021, he was one of 147 Republican lawmakers who objected to the certification of electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election.

2026 race

New Jersey's 2nd congressional district covers the majority of South Jersey, spanning from the Philadelphia metropolitan area to the upper Pine Barrens and taking in Atlantic City and Vineland. Jeff Van Drew, the Republican incumbent, was unopposed in the Republican primary with 35,602 votes.

His Democratic opponent is Zack Mullock, mayor of Cape May since 2021, who won his primary with 39.8% over Tim Alexander, Bayly Winder and Terri Reese.

Independent Ramon Mora Jr. is also on the ballot, and a debate is scheduled for October 22 at Stockton University ahead of the general election on November 3, 2026.