Van Drew Ousted In Stunning South Jersey Upset

2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, NJ —Cape May Mayor and Democrat Zack Mullock has defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew in a stunning upset in New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District.

Van Drew, a Trump ally in a red district, conceded defeat Tuesday night, though the race has not been officially called as of Wednesday morning. As of the latest update with 95 percent of votes counted, Mullock had 135,445 votes to Van Drew's 129,028, according to the Associated Press.

“He is and will be our new congressman for the next two years, and I wish him the very best,” Van Drew said during a concession speech Tuesday night, according to New Jersey Monitor. “I wish him success. His success is our success.”

Van Drew was elected in 2018 as a Democrat. He flipped parties following the first impeachment of President Donald Trump.

His seat was long considered safe, until the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added it to their list of vulnerable Republicans they believed could be ousted. In 2024, Van Drew defeated his opponent by 17 points.

“No Values Jeff Van Drew is everything wrong with politics, and Jerseyans are fed up with his penchant for putting political expediency over his constituents. He is a spineless politician who prioritizes tax breaks for the wealthiest few while gutting health care and raising costs for his constituents. That’s why they’ll send him packing next month,” DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in October.

Mullock said he was humbled by his victory.

“Whether you voted for me or not, this campaign was about something bigger than an election. It was about ending the 'us vs. them' mentality,” Mullock said. “We are all Americans, we are all part of the same community, and I will represent all of South Jersey.”

Mullock pointed to his grassroots campaign as the reason for victory.

“We will fight to end the war in Iran. We will fight to end the tariffs that are driving up costs. We will fight for affordable healthcare for all and ensure that every person is treated with dignity and respect,” he said. “We must stop the middle class from shrinking. We must make life affordable. And we must give the next generation the opportunity to work toward the American Dream.”