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Jefferson H. Van Drew^[1] (born February 23, 1953) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 2nd congressional district since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, 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.^[2]

Van Drew was the Democratic nominee in New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the 2018 election. He was elected with 52% of the vote against Republican nominee Seth Grossman, who received nearly 46% of the vote.

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]

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.^[3]

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.^[4] In November 2011, Van Drew defeated Republican challenger David S. DeWeese by a margin of 24,557-20,857.^[5] He was reelected in the 2013 elections defeating Upper Township Republican businesswoman Susan Adelizzi Schmidt by 20 points.^[6]

For the 2018-19 session, Van Drew serves 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."^[7]

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:^[8][9]

• Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak (D)


• Assemblyman R. Bruce Land (D)

U.S. House of Representatives

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".^[10][11][12]

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."^[13] He was endorsed by the eight county chairs in the district, as well as New Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross.^[12] 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.^[14] In the primary campaign for the seat, Van Drew faced William Cunningham, Tanzie Youngblood,^[10] and Nate Kleinman.^[15] Sean Thom dropped out ahead of the June 5, 2018 primary.^[16] As of May 16, Van Drew had raised $412,555 for his campaign.^[17] On June 5, 2018, Van Drew won the Democratic primary with 55.4% of the vote. On the same night, Seth Grossman won the Republican nomination.^[18]

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".^[19][20] In the November 5 midterms, Van Drew ultimately won 52.3% 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.^[21]

Tenure

Van Drew said during his campaign that, if elected, he would not support Nancy Pelosi to be the next Speaker of the House,^[22][23] His first vote in Congress was "no" for Speaker which was recorded as "present" under the rules.^[24]

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.^[25]

During his congressional primary campaign, Van Drew had a 100% rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA).^[26] 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.^[27] 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.^[28] In 2013, Van Drew voted as the only Democrat against a series of 10 gun control bills following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.^[29] 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".^[27]

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.^[30] 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.^[31]

Also in 2012, Van Drew voted against raising the state minimum wage above the federal minimum wage of $7.25, the lone Democrat dissent.^[32] On his campaign website, Van Drew highlighted his support for fully funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and protecting net neutrality.^[33] 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.^[33][34]

On environmental issues, Van Drew opposes offshore oil drilling. The state senator previously voted to withdraw from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative,^[33] and supported the construction of a pipeline through the Pinelands.^[35]

Personal life

Van Drew is a resident of Dennis Township, New Jersey.^[36] Van Drew has served as president of the New Jersey Dental Society and a board expert of the New Jersey Board of Dentistry.^[37]

Electoral history

References

External links

• 
  Congressman Jeff Van Drew official U.S. House website


• Jeff Van Drew for Congress


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  Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
  


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  Profile at Vote Smart
  


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  Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
  


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  Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
  


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  Financial information at the National Institute on Money in State Politics
  


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  Senator Van Drew at the New Jersey Legislature
  


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  New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms
  
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