DCCC Memorandum
To: Interested Parties
From: Lucinda Guinn, DCCC Executive Director
Date: Thursday, December 19, 2019
Subject: Republicans’ Uphill Battle In NJ-02
Republicans face a significant challenge holding onto New Jersey’s Second Congressional District and Congressman Jefferson Van Drew’s party switch does not improve their chances in November. Beyond the vulnerabilities on display in his own internal polling, Van Drew’s party switch has further weakened him as a candidate: he enters 2020 despised by Democrats, distrusted by Republicans, and likely viewed poorly by independents who watched him swap identities for political gain. His reputation as an independent voice for South Jersey was prefaced on the mirage he held any core beliefs, but he has undermined that image by earning coverage of his politically motivated party switch.
Southern New Jersey Democrats were already motivated to challenge Van Drew because of his very public attacks on other Democrats. His decision to join the Republican Party only increases Democratic voter motivation in the district.
The Primary Will Weaken The Eventual Republican Nominee
President Trump’s support of Van Drew is far from assured. After making his initial announcement, Van Drew loses most of his political value to the White House. And most Trump White House political endorsements only consist of a boiler-plate tweet.
But even with President Trump’s support, Van Drew is far from certain to prevail in the Republican primary.
- His Republican primary opponents have indicated that they all intend to stay in the race despite Van Drew’s party switch.
- David Richter, a wealthy candidate with the ability to self-fund and pose a serious challenge to Van Drew even without establishment support, has stated he is staying in the race. Richter has already made the NRCC’s “On The Radar” list, so House Republicans’ campaign arm will have to choose whom they support.
- Since Van Drew’s party switch, Richter affirmed his willingness to spend $1 million of his own money on the race, which is more funding than Van Drew currently has on hand.
- Richter has already begun attacking Van Drew. Richter went on local talk radio Wednesday morning and argued that the Republican establishment was “trying to clear the field for [Van Drew] now to get the Republican nomination because he can’t win a primary, he can’t defend his own record.”
- Van Drew’s Democratic voting record provides an outsized target for Republican candidates to attack
- Van Drew has voted against President Trump 93 percent of the time; including votes against border wall funding, a vote condemning Trump’s remarks about four congresswomen as racist, and a vote limiting federal spending at properties owned by President Trump.
- He’s also voted against some of Trump’s signature policies, including against the Administration’s ban on transgender members of the military, against the Administration’s rule to block abortion providers from Title X funding, and against the Administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change.
- Van Drew has a 100% rating with Planned Parenthood. A liability in a Republican primary defined by a president who selected a vice president who attempted to shut down the government over Planned Parenthood funding.
- Van Drew spoke at a protest against the Trump Administration’s pursuit of seismic testing, expressing his disappointment that Trump would support the testing.
- Van Drew’s decades as a Democrat also provide plenty of damaging soundbites and quotations about the Democratic party for opponents to weaponize. We’re happy to share some here.
- Van Drew’s position on impeachment doesn’t mean he is an ally of President Trump
General Election Issues
If Van Drew is able to win the Republican nomination, he enters the general election with serious vulnerabilities. His own internal general election polling from December 7-10 includes several data points that demonstrate the difficulty he will face competing in a general election:
- In a general election sample, only 31 percent of voters believe he should be re-elected. 48 percent want someone new.
- President Trump has lost ground since winning NJ-02 by 4.6 points in 2016. In a general election sample his favorability is even and voters are split on whether he deserves to be re-elected.
In Summary
Congressman Van Drew tried to change his values because his own polling showed he completely alienated the Democratic base and was on track to lose his primary. Now, by switching parties, he has further motivated that base, tied himself entirely to President Trump, and will have to explain a voting record that is out of step with Republican primary voters in NJ-02. We wish him the best of luck and are confident that Democrats are in a strong position to win this seat in 2020.