Jeff Van Drew

RINCUMBENTU.S. Representative for New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District (since 2019)

Ran unopposed in the June 2 Republican primary

Jeff Van Drew is the incumbent U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 2nd District. A dentist by training, he served as mayor of Dennis Township and in the New Jersey Legislature before his 2018 election to Congress as a Democrat; he switched to the Republican Party in December 2019.[3]

Key votes in Congress

  • NoWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • NoResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • YesConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • NoBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • NoWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • YesContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • YesCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • YesRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • YesSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • YesFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • YesLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
  • YesSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · H.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · 2023-05-11 roll call ↗Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.
  • NoInflation Reduction Act — final House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–207 · 2022-08-12 roll call ↗Enacted clean-energy and climate tax credits, a 15% minimum tax on large corporations' book income, a 1% excise tax on stock buybacks, and Medicare drug-price negotiation.
  • NoAssault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 1808 · Passed 217–213 · 2022-07-29 roll call ↗Would have banned the sale, manufacture and import of many semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
  • NoWomen's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 8296 · Passed 219–210 · 2022-07-15 roll call ↗Passed after Dobbs; would have created a federal statutory right to abortion services and limited state restrictions.
  • NoBipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · S. 2938 · Passed 234–193 · 2022-06-24 roll call ↗Expanded background checks for buyers under 21, funded state red-flag and crisis-intervention programs, and narrowed the "boyfriend loophole."
  • NoBuild Back Better Act — House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–213 · 2021-11-19 roll call ↗Would have funded clean-energy tax credits, universal pre-kindergarten and child-care subsidies, and extended health-coverage subsidies; it did not pass the Senate.
  • NoWomen's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 3755 · Passed 218–211 · 2021-09-24 roll call ↗Would have created a federal statutory right for providers to offer, and patients to receive, abortion services, limiting state restrictions.
  • NoAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 228–197 · 2021-03-18 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
  • YesRaise the Wage Act — House passage · H.R. 582 · Passed 231–199 · 2019-07-18 roll call ↗Would have raised the federal minimum wage in steps from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2025.
  • YesAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 237–187 · 2019-06-04 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
  • YesBipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · H.R. 8 · Passed 240–190 · 2019-02-27 roll call ↗Would have required background checks for most firearm transfers between private parties.

On the record — official actions

  • billSponsored the Social Security Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation ending the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset that had reduced Social Security benefits for retired police officers, firefighters, and other public employees; it was enacted into law.[4]
  • bill2024-08-28 · Introduced legislation to eliminate federal income tax on Social Security benefits (announced August 28, 2024); voted July 3, 2025 for a $6,000 senior tax credit that, combined with an enhanced standard deduction, the campaign says ends federal taxes on Social Security income for most seniors.[4]
  • actionAs a member of the House Judiciary Committee (chairman of a new oversight subcommittee) and the Transportation Committee's Coast Guard and Maritime Subcommittee, secured $425 million for an overhaul of the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May and worked to secure the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center's permanent designation as the agency's Center for Advanced Aerospace in South Jersey.[4]
  • bill2025-12-10 · Announced on December 10, 2025 that the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, as passed by Congress, included $68 million for a new maintenance hangar at the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard in Egg Harbor Township.[4]
  • action2025-07-21 · First called for a federal takeover of the Atlantic City Housing Authority in November 2023 over unsafe living conditions; HUD notified the agency it was in "substantial default" of the Housing Act of 1937 and took possession of it on July 21, 2025.[4]
  • actionSits on the House Committee on Homeland Security (Transportation and Maritime Security; Intelligence and Counterterrorism subcommittees) and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation; Aviation subcommittees) as of the 2021–2022 session (most recent committee list published by Ballotpedia).[3]

Positions on the issues

  • OpposesExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted no on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[10][11][12][16]

    What they say: (their stated position — mixed — differs from their votes) Opposes cuts to Medicare and Medicaid benefits for eligible legal residents, but supports empowering Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices and tying U.S. drug prices to other countries' prices, rather than expanding public coverage.[4]

  • MixedExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted yes on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11). Voted yes on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04). Voted no on American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 (H.R. 6, 2021-03-18).[9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

    What they say: (their stated position — supports — differs from their votes) Supports the $165 billion border security package funding border wall construction and DHS detention/deportation resources, and has criticized New Jersey's sanctuary-state policies and local officials who opposed a Newark ICE detention center.[4]

  • OpposesFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits. Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.[10][11][12][17][18]

    What they say: Led opposition to offshore wind projects off the South Jersey coast, holding congressional field hearings against them and working with the Trump administration to halt remaining projects; supports nuclear and natural gas investment instead.[4]

  • SupportsContinue U.S. military aid to Israel

    Says he has stood with Israel since October 7, 2023 and has sponsored legislation to cut federal funding to colleges and universities that allow antisemitic events on campus.[4]

  • MixedStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27). Voted no on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29). Voted no on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24).[20][21][22]

    What they say: (their stated position — opposes — differs from their votes) A lifetime NRA member who says he will oppose efforts to restrict Second Amendment rights, including measures similar to past House gun-control bills HR-8 and HR-1112.[5]

  • OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent. Voted no on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.[10][11][12][18]

  • SupportsBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[19]

  • OpposesUniversal, publicly funded child careFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.[17]

  • SupportsRaise the minimum wageFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).[23]

  • OpposesProtect legal access to abortionFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15).[24][25]

In their words — priorities

  • Says he will never support cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid for those who are here legally and qualify, and points to his sponsorship of legislation to end federal income tax on Social Security benefits and the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act.[4]
  • Says he supports securing the border and expediting deportation of people in the country illegally who have committed crimes, and opposes New Jersey's sanctuary-state policies.[4]
  • Cites his opposition to offshore wind projects off the South Jersey coast, saying such projects would raise electricity costs and harm the local economy and environment.[4]

Background

  • Born in New York City in 1953; earned a B.S. from Rutgers University and a D.D.S. from Fairleigh Dickinson University Dental School; worked as a family dentist.[3]
  • Served as mayor of Dennis Township (1994–1995 and 1997–2003), in the New Jersey General Assembly (2002–2007), and in the New Jersey State Senate (2008–2019) before his election to Congress in 2018.[3]

Campaign money

Raised $1.9M · spent $1.2M · $1.5M cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Also on the ballot for this seat: Zack Mullock, Ramon Mora Jr. · Compare side by side

Sources cited in this profile

  1. 3.Jeff Van Drew · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 4.Wins for South Jersey · Jeff Van Drew for Congress campaign Candidate's own words
  3. 9.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  4. 10.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  5. 11.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  6. 12.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  7. 13.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  8. 14.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
  9. 15.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
  10. 16.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  11. 17.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  12. 18.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  13. 19.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  14. 20.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  15. 21.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  16. 22.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  17. 23.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  18. 24.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  19. 25.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record