Van Drew Announces Candidacy For LoBiondo's Seat

State Sen. Jeff Van Drew is pursuing the Second Congressional District seat that will become available next year when longtime Congressman Frank LoBiondo retires. After much speculation, Van Drew announced this week that he will pursue the seat in next year’s Congressional elections.

“It will be the honor of a lifetime to represent South Jersey in Congress, especially at a time when our country most needs consensus builders,” Van Drew said in a release. “Expect to hear a lot from me during this campaign about finding common ground. It won’t be easy or always even possible, but that must never stop us from making the effort. The future of our democracy depends on us finding ways around our differences so that we can work together on all that we have in common.”

LoBiondo, a moderate Republican who has held the seat since he was first elected in 1994, announced in November he would be retiring at the end of next year. National Democrats have targeted the seat as one that could be flipped, and speculation about who might pursue the seat began immediately. Van Drew’s name was one of the first that came up in conversation.

The Second Congressional District covers all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties, and parts of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Ocean counties. All eight Democratic county chairs support Van Drew’s candidacy, according to the release.

As a State Senator, Van Drew currently represents the First Legislative District, which includes all of Cape May County, and parts of Atlantic and Cumberland counties. He has represented the district since 2002, serving as an Assemblyman before turning to the State Senate.

“My top priority in Congress will be to find ways to bring economic opportunity and good jobs to South Jersey,” Van Drew said. “Thousands of people in Atlantic City lost their jobs during Atlantic City’s downsizing, and the region is still feeling the ripple effects. I want to ensure that reforms to the nation’s tax structure, health insurance system and trade policies are beneficial to South Jersey families and business owners, which will require ongoing vigilance and attention to detail.”

Van Drew is a small business owner in Atlantic County, where he was a dentist for 35 years. He lives in Cape May County, and is a lifelong member of the Ocean View Fire Company. He is a former Cape May County Freeholder, and the former mayor of Dennis Township.

The attached image of Jeff Van Drew was posted on the New Jersey Legislature’s website.