Most observers assume that Wednesday’s impeachment vote will go against the president, but in New Jersey’s second legislative district Jeff Van Drew’s calculation is that his vote against impeachment is what his constituents want. It may be a fair assumption in a district that voted for Trump in 2016.
Van Drew was, up until this point, a Democrat, and his vote and announcement that he is switching parties to become a Republican has caused an uproar among New Jersey Democrats.
“I think it’s ridiculous. He’s putting personal politics above the Constitution. He’s putting cuteness over courage,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “There’s a whole lot of things that define what a Democrat is, and I think it’s time to be proud to be Democrats, and he’s cutting and running and I think it’s pathetic.”
“When you belong to a political party, to me it means a commitment to the party values, what a party stands for,” said Rep. Bill Pascrell. “That doesn’t mean you have to vote the party line every time; I don’t vote the party line every time. But it sure means that you should show your respect to the people that you work with. We didn’t know anything about this.”
Part of the backlash is fueled by reports that Van Drew met with Republicans, including the president, to discuss his plans, while ignoring Democrats who were reaching out.
At the congressman’s district office in Mays Landing, NJTV News was told that Van Drew was in DC but calls to the DC office went straight to voicemail.
There’s at least some evidence to suggest that Van Drew’s constituents like his decision to back Trump and even to switch parties.
“I think this whole thing is a big sham, and when the Democrats stop crying that they lost in ’16, maybe we can get on with our government,” said one New Jerseyan.
On if they agree with Van Drew’s decision on impeachment, another said, “That he doesn’t think it’s fair, what they came up with? Yeah. I agree with that. I mean I don’t think it was right that both sides weren’t given a chance to bring witnesses, their own witnesses. It was kind of a kangaroo court, in my opinion.”
GOP party leaders were not especially jumping for joy at the prospect of adding a former 20-plus year Democrat, but Democrats see an opportunity to put up a true blue candidate.
Montclair State University Professor Brigid Harrison has been very critical of Van drew’s move and today declared her candidacy for his seat.
“What Jeff Van Drew is demonstrating is that he’s not loyal,” said Harrison. “By deciding to vote against both the procedure and the articles of impeachment, I think Jeff Van Drew demonstrated that he doesn’t have the best interest of his South Jersey constituents, or the country, at heart. I think he’s putting his political career over those interests.”
Harrison is the highest profile of what could be a half dozen candidates in a Democratic primary.
Interest in the Republican primary was already high before Van Drew’s announcement, so the incumbent has opened the field, for both sides. A two-front war in which he’s hoping for at least one major ally.
