GOP New Jersey Rep. Van Drew loses to Democrat Zack Mullock

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), who originally entered the House as a Democrat before President Trump’s first impeachment, lost to Democrat Zack Mullock in the race to lead New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District, according to preliminary results from Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

Mullock, the mayor of Cape May, won in a race that the Cook Political Report shifted from solidly Republican to likely Republican in the days before the midterm elections. Mullock led with 51.10 percent support compared to Van Drew’s 47.85 percent, DDHQ projected at 11:25 p.m. EST on Tuesday.

The Philadelphia Inquirer spotted Mullock thanking supporters after his win.

“I’ve already conceded about 10 minutes ago, I called Zack Mullock and I conceded his victory. He is and will be our new congressman for the next two years,” Van Drew told supporters after the election was called for Mullock, New Jersey-based ABC 6 Action News reported.

“I wish him the very best. I wish him success. His success is our success,” the Republican added.

Mullock ran to lead Cape May on a nonpartisan ticket, the “Community First” slate “because I’ve always believed in putting service to my community over allegiance to any one political party,” he said on his campaign website.

He campaigned on addressing concerns over the cost of living and addressing climate issues, as well as assuring that the U.S. lives up to its alliances forged during World War II.

“Both my grandfathers fought proudly against fascism and for our democratic allies in WWII,” he said on his campaign website. “They knew the extreme importance of the alliances formed and the peace and prosperity they have brought to our world.”

Van Drew was aiming to serve a fifth term in the House, having first been elected in 2018. The lawmaker was part of that midterm year’s “blue wave,” though he led Republican-leaning Cape May in the New Jersey state Assembly, according to the Cape May Star and Wave in 2007.

But in 2019, Van Drew changed his affiliation , joining the Republican Party after a New Jersey county party chairperson told him he would face political consequences if he did not vote in favor of impeaching Trump.

“It all boils down to that I may have my own individual opinion on one vote and that’s not going to be allowed, and I’m going to be punished for that, and that’s when I knew,” Van Drew told Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures” at the time.