Winder Sees Rising Momentum in NJ-2 as Voters Turn Against GOP Economic Failures

MAYS LANDING, NJ — Democratic congressional candidate for New Jersey’s 2nd District Bayly Winder released the following statement after State Rep. Aftyn Behn’s strong showing in a special election in Tennessee’s Seventh Congressional District, where she ran well ahead of expectations in a deeply Republican area. 

“Aftyn’s performance in Tennessee — running 13 points ahead of Donald Trump’s 22-point margin in 2024 — is a wake-up call to Republican leadership that the cost-of-living backlash is real and gaining strength. Here in South Jersey, the same frustration is everywhere. We just saw Mikie Sherrill flip three counties in NJ-2 because people are exhausted, squeezed, and demanding relief. I have talked with families who are tightening their budgets this Christmas because groceries, utilities, and rent keep going up. They are not just inconvenienced — they are angry that promises to lower costs were broken.

Donald Trump and Jeff Van Drew have betrayed working Americans,  delivering only hardship and broken promises. Now, even Van Drew is telling his colleagues that House Republicans are going to “get killed” in the midterms. Voters want leaders they can trust, who respect their struggles and deliver real solutions. Aftyn’s result shows that voters are ready to rise up. That energy is building here in NJ-2 and across the country. I believe it will translate into a real blue wave in 2026.”

To learn more about Bayly Winder and join the movement to bring real leadership to South Jersey, visit https://winderforcongress.com