Amy Kennedy Announces Run For Jeff Van Drew's Seat

Amy Kennedy added her name to a growing list of Democratic candidates running for Congressman Jeff Van Drew's seat. Kennedy announced her campaign in a video criticizing Van Drew and President Donald Trump and addressing her values.

Van Drew, who represents New Jersey's 2nd District in the House of Representatives, switched parties after voting "no" on impeaching President Trump.

Kennedy is a former teacher and the wife of former Rhode Island Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy — late Senator Ted Kennedy's son. She serves as education director of The Kennedy Forum, which her husband founded in 2013. She works on policy change in education and mental health.

"Too many of our leaders have lost their moral compass," Kennedy said in the video. "Trump and Van Drew are symptoms of a bigger sickness infecting our country and our politics."

"Doing what’s right shouldn’t be complicated," she continued. "...Treat one another with respect. Show some compassion. And look out for others. But that's not happening today."

She joins a crowded field of Democratic candidates, which includes:

• Monclair State University professor Brigid Harrison, who has the support of six of the eight county Democratic chairs in the second district
• Atlantic County Freeholder Ashley Bennett
• West Cape May Councilman John Francis
• Brigantine resident Robert Turkavage, a former FBI agent and a Republican-turned-Democrat

"People in South Jersey can't find good jobs, but the richest corporations pay almost no taxes," Kennedy said. "Our coastline is under attack from energy corporations and climate change while environmental regulations are gutted."

Kennedy also called the addiction crisis, especially opioid addiction, the biggest public health crisis of our time.

She was born in Atlantic City and grew up in Pleasantville and Absecon.

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