NJ-02: Can a Democrat beat Jeff Van Drew? Four want to try.

Last edited Fri May 22, 2026, 05:02 AM - Edit history (1)

It’s been a while since South Jersey Democrats have allowed themselves to dream of flipping the 2nd congressional district, which Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) – a former Democrat himself – has held since 2019. The district is simply too conservative to elect a Democrat; Van Drew is simply too popular; Democrats simply do not have the resources or energy to compete.

But this year, as President Donald Trump’s approval ratings sag and New Jersey Democrats grow increasingly bullish on their chances, a glimmer of Democratic optimism has started to emerge for the first time since Amy Kennedy’s 2020 campaign. No one thinks the district will be an easy win, but if there’s a huge blue wave this November, it might at least enter the conversation.

First, though, Democrats need to decide who they’ll be putting forward for the seat, which includes cities like Atlantic City and Vineland, the outer reaches of the Philadelphia suburbs, and vast swaths of rural territory.

The nominee will likely be one of three candidates: Tim Alexander, a civil rights attorney who has run for the seat twice before; Bayly Winder, a former USAID official; and Zack Mullock, the mayor of the city of Cape May. A fourth candidate, Terri Reese, is also running, but she is viewed as the underdog compared to her better-known and better-funded foes.



https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/can-a-democrat-beat-jeff-van-drew-four-want-to-try/