Who's running in New Jersey's 2nd congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Jeff Van Drew currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Border security and stricter immigration enforcement.
Opposition to offshore wind development along the Jersey Shore.
Lower taxes and reduced federal regulation.
Support for commercial fishing and the shore tourism economy.
Support for President Trump's legislative agenda.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 2nd District since January 2019; re-elected in 2024 with 58.1% of the vote.
Elected as a Democrat in 2018 and switched to the Republican Party in December 2019.
Served in the New Jersey General Assembly and State Senate, and as mayor of Dennis Township, before Congress.
A dentist by profession.
Signed a Republican letter opposing Medicaid cuts in 2025, then voted for the House budget resolution instructing the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion.
Won the June 2, 2026 Republican primary unopposed.
Reported $1,701,892 raised as of May 13, 2026.
Arguments in favor
He was endorsed by President Trump and carries the backing of the Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem county Republican organisations, and was unopposed for renomination.
— Donald Trump endorsement and county Republican organization endorsements
The New Jersey Teamsters endorsed him, and the state AFL-CIO and the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council declined to endorse anyone in this race — unusual support from organised labour for a Republican incumbent.
— New Jersey Teamsters endorsement; AFL-CIO and NJ Building Trades declined to endorse
Arguments against
Mullock argues Van Drew has backed cuts to Medicaid in a district where large areas are economically struggling: he signed a letter opposing Medicaid cuts and then voted for the budget resolution ordering $880 billion in cuts from the committee that oversees the programme.
— Zack Mullock campaign, reported by Insider NJ and New Jersey Globe
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee argues his party switch was opportunistic: he voted against Trump 90% of the time as a Democrat — against border wall funding and for a resolution condemning Trump's remarks about four congresswomen as racist — before pledging "undying support" to the president, and it asked him to refund small-dollar Democratic donors.
— Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
What we couldn’t verify
The DCCC's case against Van Drew was published at the time of his December 2019 party switch, not this cycle. It is included because the switch is the central fact of his political record and he has not disputed the vote counts, but readers should know its vintage.
No NRCC or DCCC material specific to the 2026 general election in this district was found.
Affordability — housing, utility and grocery costs in South Jersey.
Protecting Medicaid and health care access.
Infrastructure and coastal resilience.
A more welcoming immigration policy.
Bipartisan local governance, which he presents as his record.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Mayor of Cape May since 2021; won a council seat before that and unseated the incumbent mayor in 2020.
Says he went five years as mayor without raising municipal taxes while building a new firehouse, police station and library.
Won the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary against Bayly Winder, Tim Alexander and Terri Reese.
Called for the nation to "stand with Minneapolis" after fatal ICE shootings in January 2026, saying the country faces a constitutional crisis.
Endorsed by the Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem county Democratic committees.
Arguments in favor
He consolidated the county Democratic organisations across the whole district and added union backing after the primary — the New Jersey Education Association, the UFCW council for New York and New Jersey, and UNITE HERE Local 54, the Atlantic City casino workers' union.
— County Democratic committee and union endorsements
National Democrats treated him as the most viable of the four primary candidates and have begun investing in the district, and Decision Desk HQ moved the race from solid to likely Republican in July 2026.
— New Jersey Globe reporting; Decision Desk HQ rating
Arguments against
Van Drew's campaign disputes his account of his own record, saying of Mullock that "if our opponent's lips are moving, he's lying" over his claims about municipal tax increases in Cape May. Mullock says the statement was years old and taken out of context.
— Jeff Van Drew campaign, quoted by Insider NJ
Conservative outlet Save Jersey argues he has run on affordability, infrastructure and the environment while offering few specifics, and that running a small, affluent and unusually Democratic shore town is limited preparation for Congress.
— Save Jersey
What we couldn’t verify
No NRCC material naming Mullock was found. The criticism above comes from Van Drew's campaign and from a conservative state outlet rather than from the national party committee.
In Cape May the mayoralty is largely ceremonial — the mayor chairs council meetings but holds few powers beyond those of other council members — which bears on how much of the city's record is attributable to him.
Affordability — housing, utilities, health care and food costs.
Expanded public transit, community centres and electrical grid capacity.
Investment in both academic education and trade skills.
A moratorium on new AI data centres over their energy and water use.
Removing corporate money from politics.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Has lived in South Jersey more than thirty years; graduated from Vineland High School and holds a nursing degree from Atlantic Cape Community College.
Has not held elected office.
Filed 411 nominating petition signatures against a 250 requirement; Democrats challenged them and then withdrew the challenge, leaving him on the ballot.
Appears on the ballot under the slogan "Invest in People" in Atlantic, Cape May and Gloucester counties and "Put People First" in Cumberland, Ocean and Salem.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Mora by name could be found — not from either major-party campaign, not from a party committee, and not from South Jersey news coverage — and no published case for him beyond his own campaign material and one profile in Front Runner New Jersey. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either, rather than showing his own campaign's case unanswered.
He criticises "corporate and AIPAC-owned Democrats" and says both major parties have failed working families, but does not name his opponents.
No fundraising figures or endorsements for his campaign were found.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
New Jersey held its primary on June 2, 2026. Three candidates appear on the November ballot: Republican incumbent Jeff Van Drew, Democrat Zack Mullock and independent Ramon Mora Jr., who is listed under the slogans "Invest in People" and "Put People First" depending on the county. The roster is confirmed against the New Jersey Division of Elections official general election candidate list dated September 4, 2026. The district covers most of South Jersey, from the Philadelphia suburbs to the Pine Barrens, taking in Atlantic City and Vineland. Forecasters rate it solid or likely Republican; Decision Desk HQ moved it to Likely Republican in July 2026.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A New Jersey ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at New Jersey Division of Elections.