NJ-02: Congressman's pledge of 'undying support' for Trump hangs over close House race
The congressman who represents Atlantic City made a risky political gamble last year. Now he's waiting to see whether it will pay off -- or if he's going home broke.
In December, Rep. Jeff Van Drew shocked his colleagues in the Democratic Party when he announced he would become a Republican, citing his discomfort with impeaching President Donald Trump. Van Drew's detractors point to a more craven political calculation: that he might not have been able to survive his Democratic primary.
The decision culminated in an Oval Office photo-op, where Van Drew pledged his "undying support" to the President. Camera shutters clicked as the two men vigorously shook hands. Eleven months later, those images are at the center of one of the hottest congressional races in the country, with Van Drew seeking reelection for the first time — and, also for the first time, running as a Republican.
His GOP debut happens to coincide with a daunting year for his new party. But he says his transition is "going fine."
https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/28/politics/jeff-van-drew-amy-kennedy-new-jersey-house-race/index.html
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