Mullock Ousts Van Drew in South Jersey House Upset
Van Drew conceded the race to Mullock, a 41-year-old Cape May mayor, calling him the district’s next congressman and wishing him success. The upset came in a district that had been expected to favor Van Drew, who won reelection in 2024 with 58.1% of the vote as Donald Trump carried the district by more than 13 points.
Van Drew, 73, had won the seat four times. He was elected as a Democrat in 2018, then switched to the Republican Party in 2019 and pledged support to Trump. His previous reelection wins included margins of nearly 19 points in 2022 and nearly 17 points in 2024.
Democrats became more confident in the race in the final weeks. National Democrats and elected officials, including Cory Booker, Andy Kim and Gov. Mikie Sherrill, campaigned with Mullock. He raised less than $1 million through October 14, compared with more than $2.4 million raised by Van Drew.
Mullock criticized Van Drew’s support for Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Medicaid cuts, and his votes against measures demanding an end to the Iran war. He also emphasized his local work and willingness to work across party lines. Van Drew’s concession came before the race was called by the Associated Press.
Voters Reject Van Drew After His Party Switch and Trump Alignment
Voters in South Jersey delivered Democrats a major House-seat upset, rejecting Jeff Van Drew after his shift from Democrat to Republican and his alignment with President Donald Trump. Van Drew conceded to Zack Mullock, the Cape May mayor, ending his effort to win a fifth term in a district expected to lean Republican.
Van Drew had won reelection in 2024 with 58.1% of the vote, while Trump carried the district by more than 13 points. But Democrats gained confidence in the contest in the weeks before Election Day, and national and state Democratic figures campaigned for Mullock, including Cory Booker, Andy Kim and Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
Mullock made Van Drew’s support for Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act a campaign issue, criticizing its Medicaid cuts. He also faulted the congressman for voting against measures demanding an end to the Iran war. Van Drew had changed parties in 2019 after being elected to the House as a Democrat the year before, and pledged support to Trump.
Mullock raised less than $1 million through October 14, compared with more than $2.4 million for Van Drew. His win shows the incumbent’s past margins and the district’s recent Republican tilt were not enough to hold the seat. Van Drew conceded before the Associated Press called the race.
Democrats Flip a Republican-Leaning South Jersey House Seat
Democrats have flipped a House seat in a district that backed Donald Trump by more than 13 points in 2024, defeating Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew and ending his bid for a fifth term. Van Drew conceded to Zack Mullock, Cape May’s mayor, even before the Associated Press called the race.
The result breaks with Van Drew’s recent record: he won reelection with 58.1% in 2024, and his margins were nearly 19 points in 2022 and nearly 17 points in 2024. The four-term congressman had built a long political career in South Jersey and switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in 2019, after winning his House seat as a Democrat.
Democratic leaders and elected officials rallied behind Mullock in the final stretch, including Cory Booker, Andy Kim and Gov. Mikie Sherrill. Mullock also drew criticism of Van Drew’s support for Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cut Medicaid, and his votes against measures demanding an end to the Iran war.
The challenger raised less than $1 million through October 14, while Van Drew raised more than $2.4 million. The upset hands Democrats a seat they had not initially treated as a top national target and puts a Republican-leaning district in Democratic hands. Van Drew said he wished Mullock success.
Reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, 6abc Philadelphia, The Washington Examiner, Gothamist, CBS Philadelphia.
