Today, the DCCC is expanding House Democrats’ Districts in Play for the 2026 election cycle to include New Jersey’s Second Congressional District, signaling Democrats’ readiness to reclaim the House majority by widening the battlefield and working to defeat Jeff Van Drew.
The DCCC’s Districts in Play are competitive districts held by vulnerable Republicans across the country that will determine the House Majority.
Adding NJ-02 to the DCCC’s Districts in Play sends a clear message that Democrats know New Jersey voters are souring on Van Drew’s wildly unpopular record of raising costs, attacking affordable health care, standing by corruption, and hurting working families.
“No Values Jeff Van Drew is everything wrong with politics, and Jerseyans are fed up with his penchant for putting political expediency over his constituents. He is a spineless politician who prioritizes tax breaks for the wealthiest few while gutting health care and raising costs for his constituents. That’s why they’ll send him packing next month,” said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene.
Governor Mikie Sherrill nearly won this district in 2025, coming within single digits. As Trump’s numbers continue to plummet among suburban voters who make up six in ten NJ-02 voters, Van Drew is in serious trouble. Democrats’ overperformance in New Jersey off-year elections this cycle shows we have a path to unseat Van Drew and win NJ-02.
