South Jersey Candidates Clash On Medicaid, Energy And Town Halls In Debate

GALLOWAY, NJ — Candidates for South Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District clashed over health care, energy policy, immigration and public access during a debate hosted by the Hughes Center at Stockton University.

Zach Mullock, the nonpartisan mayor of Cape May, opened by saying voters want “a return to normalcy, a return to decency.”

His opponent, Rep. Jeff Van Drew, said the race is about “being connected” to people in South Jersey and pointed to constituent service and federal funding efforts in the region.

The debate was packed with interruptions and insults, with Van Drew calling Mullock "Mr. Pinocchio" and accusing him of being a liar.

Moderators framed several questions around affordability in one of the state’s poorest regions. Asked for his top priorities to make life more affordable, Mullock said, “The first thing we have to do is reverse the policies of Mr. Van Drew and Donald Trump.” He criticized votes he said affected Medicare, Medicaid, tariffs and the cost of housing.

Van Drew rejected those claims, saying, “Never voted to cut Medicare. There was never even a vote on cutting Medicare that ever existed.”

The candidates returned repeatedly to Medicaid and Medicare. Mullock cited the Congressional Budget Office and said federal changes would harm residents in South Jersey.

“If you are a senior citizen, nothing is going to change. If you are a young couple with kids, nothing is going to change. If you are disabled, nothing is going to change,” Van Drew said.

He added that under the policy he described, a “single, healthy young man” on Medicaid would have to work, return to school or volunteer.

Energy costs and offshore wind also produced sharp exchanges. Van Drew blamed high electric rates on state energy policy and said, “Our electric rates are too high.”

Mullock said, “Unlike my opponent, I have only taken one vote on offshore wind, and I voted no,” while also backing renewable energy and saying solar should move ahead.

Van Drew later said he supports an “all of the above” approach to power generation.

On Iran, the candidates disputed Van Drew’s votes and the role of Congress in military action. Mullock called the conflict “a war of stupidity.”

Van Drew said, “There was never a vote for the war in Iran,” and said he opposed immediately ending hostilities because it would have endangered U.S. troops.

The debate also turned to immigration, Social Security and whether members of Congress should hold open in-person town halls. Mullock criticized Van Drew for not holding them and said public comment is “a huge part of democracy.” Van Drew said confrontations at some town halls have made them unsafe, adding, “That’s not good for America.”