What Kind of House Democrat Would Switch Parties?
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“Jeff stabbed us in the back, certainly,” said a seething Michael Suleiman, the Atlantic County chairman. “It’s disgusting. It’s a disgrace. Good riddance.”
He added, “Maybe he’ll be the new ambassador to Ukraine.”
With activists furious about Van Drew’s stand, one New Jersey Democrat said that there was no way the congressman from Cape May County could win a primary and that party leaders would not have backed his reelection in 2020.
The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity to disclose private discussions. Van Drew and his chief of staff did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement Saturday that he and other top Democrats had made it clear to Van Drew that his impeachment stand meant he would no longer have Democratic support. “Despite knowing full well that the president has abused the powers of his office,” Murphy said, “Congressman Van Drew is now willing to enable Donald Trump just to try to salvage his own election.”
Van Drew in recent days asked party chairs to sign a pledge to support him, and they refused, according to Sulemain. Van Drew’s team also tried to persuade national Democratic staffers detailed to his race to continue to support him despite his switch to the GOP. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee staff balked and alerted South Jersey Democratic officials, according to two people familiar with the conversations.
“Leaving the Democratic Party wouldn’t cost me my party connections, would it?” Definitely the kind of intellect who would not merely oppose impeachment but loudly support Trump with Republican talking points on Fox News. Adieu!