Ocean City Area 'Recruitment Hole,' National GOP Says

The Ohio Republican who called New Jersey's Second Congressional District race a "recruiting hole" for his party is reportedly walking back those comments after meeting with one of his party’s candidates.

National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) called the area a “recruiting hole” in an interview with nj.com a few weeks ago. The district includes all of Atlantic, Cape May, Salem and Cumberland counties, as well as parts of Ocean, Gloucester, Camden and Burlington counties.

Stivers changed his tune after meeting with candidate Hirsh Singh on Wednesday, The Observer reports. ““I just met Hirsh Singh, who is an impressive candidate with a compelling personal story,” Stivers told the news outlet. “If the other candidates are as strong as Hirsh, I am confident we are going to win the seat.” He added that he made those comments before meeting any of the candidates.

Singh is an engineer from Egg Harbor Township who is running in June 5’s Republican Primary. The winner goes on to the Nov. 6 general election to fill the seat soon to be vacated by the retiring Frank LoBiondo.

State Sen. Jeff Van Drew is the front runner in the Democratic Primary, but has come under fire for past contributions he’s received from the NRA and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

In announcing his candidacy back in February, Singh pledged to “fight for South Jersey and stand up to Nancy Pelosi.”

“South Jersey deserves a conservative champion in Congress – someone who will defend the President’s agenda, fight to bring our fair share of tax dollars back to South Jersey, and stand up to Nancy Pelosi and the radical left,” Singh said in his announcement. “The President’s agenda of slashing regulations, cutting taxes, and returning decision-making to state and local governments is working to grow the economy and must be supported.”

Singh, former Assemblyman Sam Fiocchi, former Atlantic County Freeholder Seth Grossman and former FBI Agent Robert Turkavage are all pursuing the Republican Party’s nomination.

Van Drew, retired teacher Tanzie Youngblood, human rights activist Nate Kleinman and former Congressional Aide Will Cunningham are all pursuing the Democratic Party’s nomination.

Libertarian John Ordille and independent candidate Anthony Parisi have also announced they are running for the seat.

Patch file photo