Jeff Van Drew Bio
Jefferson H. Van Drew (born February 23, 1953) is an American politician and former dentist serving as the U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 2nd congressional district since 2019. He was first elected to Congress as a Democrat but switched his party affiliation to the Republican Party in January 2020, becoming one of the most prominent party-switchers of his era. Before entering national politics, Van Drew practiced dentistry in South Jersey for thirty years and held a series of local and state offices across Cape May County.
A native of New York City and a long-time resident of Dennis Township, New Jersey, Van Drew built his political career in southern New Jersey through decades of work at the township, county, and state levels. His career has spanned dental practice, local government, the New Jersey Legislature, and the U.S. House of Representatives. He is married to Ricarda Van Drew, with whom he has two children.
Early Life and Background
Jefferson H. Van Drew was born in New York City on February 23, 1953. He grew up in a household that valued public service and hard work, traits that would later shape his long career in New Jersey politics. After completing high school, Van Drew pursued higher education in New Jersey, where he eventually settled and built his professional life.
Van Drew earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University–New Brunswick. He then went on to receive his Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. After completing his dental training, he opened a practice in South Jersey, where he spent the next thirty years treating patients and becoming a respected member of the local professional community.
Throughout his dental career, Van Drew remained active in civic affairs in Dennis Township. He served as a Dennis Township Fire Commissioner from 1983 to 1986, an early indication of his interest in local public service. His involvement in community organizations and local government laid the foundation for a political career that would eventually take him to Washington, D.C.
Path to US Politics
Van Drew’s entry into politics began at the local level in Dennis Township, where he joined the township committee in 1991. He subsequently served as mayor of Dennis Township from 1994 to 1995 and again from 1997 to 2003. His tenure as mayor gave him direct experience with municipal budgeting, public safety, and infrastructure, areas that would remain priorities throughout his career.
In addition to his mayoral duties, Van Drew served on the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1994 to 1997 and again from 2000 to 2002. As a freeholder, he advocated for expanding access to higher education, including support for what would become the Atlantic Cape Community College campus in Cape May County. These local accomplishments helped him build a reputation as a pragmatic, constituency-focused Democrat in a Republican-leaning region.
Van Drew’s success at the county level opened the door to state politics. In 2002, he won a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the 1st Legislative District. He served in the Assembly until 2008, when he was elected to the New Jersey Senate. As a state legislator, Van Drew earned a reputation as one of the most conservative Democrats in Trenton, frequently breaking with his party on social issues while championing South Jersey’s rural and coastal communities.
Jeff Van Drew Career
Early Career (1991–2008)
Van Drew’s earliest political experience came through the Dennis Township Committee, which he joined in 1991. He rose quickly through the ranks, becoming mayor of Dennis Township in 1994 and serving in that role across two stints ending in 2003. His tenure as mayor coincided with his service as a Cape May County Freeholder, allowing him to manage issues that spanned both municipal and county governments.
During these formative years, Van Drew also built his profile as a community leader and dentist. He served as president of the New Jersey Dental Society and sat on the New Jersey Board of Dentistry, blending his professional expertise with his public service. In 2002, he transitioned to the state level, winning a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 1st Legislative District.
New Jersey Legislature Breakthrough (2002–2018)
Van Drew served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2002 to 2008, focusing on issues such as prescription drug affordability, coastal community needs, and veterans’ affairs. In 2007, he won election to the New Jersey Senate, defeating Republican incumbent Nicholas Asselta in the 1st Legislative District. He was sworn into the Senate in 2008 and quickly established himself as a leading voice for South Jersey.
During his Senate tenure, Van Drew chaired the Community and Urban Affairs Committee and served as vice chair of the Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. He sponsored the Fair Market Drug Pricing Act, which created the New Jersey Rx Card Program to reduce prescription drug prices for residents. He won reelection in 2011 and 2013, often performing strongly in the Republican-leaning portions of his district.
Known for his conservative positions on social issues, Van Drew frequently broke ranks with his Democratic colleagues. He was one of only two Democrats to vote against legalizing same-sex marriage in New Jersey in 2012 and the only Democrat to vote against raising the state’s minimum wage above the federal level. His independent streak made him a popular figure among South Jersey moderates and set the stage for his later congressional bid.
U.S. House of Representatives Era (2019–Present)
In 2018, Van Drew launched a campaign for New Jersey’s 2nd congressional district after longtime Republican incumbent Frank LoBiondo announced his retirement. Backed by eight county chairs and Democratic leader George Norcross, Van Drew won the Democratic primary with 55.4 percent of the vote. In the November general election, he defeated Republican Seth Grossman 52.9 percent to 45.2 percent, flipping the seat for the Democrats.
Van Drew’s time in the House quickly became defined by his opposition to the first impeachment of Donald Trump. In October 2019, he was one of only two Democrats to vote against the rules for the impeachment inquiry, and in December 2019, he was one of two Democrats to vote against both articles of impeachment. Shortly afterward, on December 19, 2019, Van Drew announced he was joining the Republican Party and pledged his ‘undying support’ to President Trump, who endorsed him for reelection.
Van Drew officially switched his party affiliation on January 7, 2020. With backing from former Trump political director Bill Stepien and a campaign rally held by President Trump at the Wildwoods Convention Center, he won the 2020 general election against Democratic nominee Amy Kennedy, 52 percent to 46 percent. He was easily reelected in 2022, defeating Tim Alexander with 59.3 percent of the vote, and again in 2024, winning with 58.1 percent of the vote while running unopposed in the Republican primary.
Notable Events and Milestones
Van Drew’s most defining moment came with his December 2019 party switch, a rare move that drew national attention and reshaped the political landscape of southern New Jersey. He was one of 147 Republican lawmakers who objected to the certification of the 2020 presidential electoral votes on January 6, 2021. He later supported resolutions to expunge the impeachments of Donald Trump and, in May 2025, voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Jeff Van Drew Career Wins
Across more than three decades in public service, Jefferson H. Van Drew has compiled a substantial record of electoral victories at the local, state, and federal levels. From his early wins as a Dennis Township committee member to his ongoing tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, Van Drew has consistently prevailed in both Democratic and Republican primaries and general elections.
Congressional Highlights
Van Drew has won four consecutive elections for New Jersey’s 2nd congressional district. In 2018, he defeated Republican Seth Grossman to flip the seat from red to blue. After switching parties, he won the 2020 general election against Amy Kennedy, the 2022 race against Tim Alexander with 59.3 percent of the vote, and the 2024 election with 58.1 percent of the vote while running unopposed in the primary.
Other Wins and Achievements
Before his congressional career, Van Drew won multiple terms as mayor of Dennis Township and Cape May County Freeholder. He won election to the New Jersey General Assembly in 2002 and to the New Jersey Senate in 2007, 2011, and 2013, often defeating Republican challengers by wide margins in his mixed-ideology district. He also served as president of the New Jersey Dental Society and as a board expert on the New Jersey Board of Dentistry.
Jeff Van Drew Family
Family Background and Personal Roots
Jefferson H. Van Drew was born and raised in New York City before relocating to New Jersey, where he built both his dental career and his political life. He has long made his home in Dennis Township in Cape May County, the same community where he first entered politics. He is a practicing Roman Catholic and a Freemason affiliated with Cannon Lodge No. 104 in South Seaville, New Jersey.
Personal Life
Van Drew married Ricarda Van Drew in 1974, and the couple has two children. The family continues to reside in Dennis Township, where Van Drew has lived and worked for decades. His long marriage and deep roots in South Jersey have been a recurring theme in his campaigns, where he frequently emphasizes his local connections and commitment to the region’s communities.