NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — The Blue Wave hit the Jersey Shore as Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock ousted Republican Jeff Van Drew in South Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District.
"I called Zack Mullock and conceded his victory," Van Drew said. "He is and will be our new congressman for the next two years. I wish him the very best. His success is our success."
He conceded just before 10:30 p.m. Republicans won the seat in 1994 and held on to it until Van Drew won it as a Democrat in 2018. He later switched parties after voting against impeaching President Donald Trump.
Only about 60% of the votes were in when Van Drew pulled out. Mullock had a lead for most of the night.
Mullock’s victory speech was delayed by an hour or so because Gov. Mikie Sherrill helicoptered in to congratulate him. She said Jeff Van Drew went into Congress on a blue wave, and he’s leaving Congress on a blue wave.
"Because you guys said enough is enough. We’re not going to tolerate a guy who says his loyalty is to the president, not the people," she said.
Mullock said he heard a different message during this campaign.
“Obviously you have issues of affordability and cost of living. But in all seriousness, the biggest question I was asked on this campaign is, ‘Will you be a decent human being?’”
As far as the issues, Mullock said the nation needs to end the war in Iran and end the Trump tariffs to bring down the cost of living.
This was Van Drew’s toughest reelection bid yet as he sought a fifth term on Capitol Hill.
Van Drew supporters like Sandy Simpson, who came to the Oar House Pub in Sea Isle City on election night to cheer him on, were disappointed.
“It's very heartbreaking, very, very disappointing that more people didn't stick with Van Drew and take a look at the longer picture instead of just looking at it short-term.”
Van Drew didn’t say much about what he plans to do in the future, but said he’s not one to just “tinker around the house.”
Sherrill said she is "incredibly grateful to every candidate who stepped up to serve our state."
"I especially want to recognize Rebecca Bennett and Zack Mullock, who flipped two critical U.S. House seats, and Nellie Pou, who defended her frontline district. They and their teams, including the thousands of volunteers who gave their time, should be very proud today of the campaigns they built and the plans they laid out to serve the people of this state," she continued.
