Van Drew Wins Primary: NJ 2nd District Primary 2022: AP

Updated 10:43 p.m.

NEW JERSEY — The Associated Press projected Jeff Van Drew as the winner of the New Jersey 2nd Congressional District Republican primary with 58.4 percent of votes counted, according to unofficial results.

The vote tallies remain unofficial until they are certified later in June as the final official results.

Republican incumbent Jeff Van Drew faced two challengers: John Barker and Sean Pignatelli. Both Barker and Pignatelli have questioned Van Drew's political views.

Van Drew, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, swapped parties in 2019, leaving the Democratic Party to become a Republican. In his time in office, Van Drew consistently supported Trump, objecting to Joe Biden's Electoral College win and being the only then-Democrat to oppose Trump's impeachment.

Barker, a Bayville resident and US Army veteran, questioned Van Drew's loyalties and referred to himself as the only true conservative running. Barker is running on a platform of veterans' rights, lowering government spending and parental rights in public schools.

Pignatelli, of Fortescue, has called himself a constitutional conservative and said that Van Drew does not represent conservative values. Pignatelli said his motivation for joining politics was the overdose death of his older brother in June 2020.

Patch will update as results become available. Results are unofficial.

With Associated Press reporting 66.5 percent of votes counted:

• Jeff Van Drew - 30,586
• John Barker - 2,834
• Sean Pignatelli - 2,250