Amy Kennedy of Brigantine is the Democrat's choice to beat Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew in November.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
Longport resident and District 2 Congressional candidate Brigid Callahan Harrison conceded the primary election shortly after the polls closed Tuesday, July 7. She pledged support for Democrat primary winner Amy Kennedy of Brigantine.
Brigid Callahan Harrison is a Democrat candidate in the 2nd Legislative District Congressional election.
By presenting a united front against incumbent Jeff Van Drew, a dentist and career politician who was elected to the seat formerly held by Republican Frank LoBiondo two years ago but later switched to the Republican Party, Democrats are hoping to regain the seat in Congress.
Kennedy, who is an elementary school teacher, mental health advocate and the wife of former Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy, won the heated primary race against Harrison. Both were considered front-runners. Other Democratic primary candidates included Will Cunningham of Vineland, John Francis of West Cape May and Robert Turkavage of Brigantine, each of whom failed to make a substantial showing in the most unusual primary New Jersey has ever seen.
The election, which was delayed for a month, was held mostly by mail-in ballots due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was one polling place open in each municipality mostly for provisional voting, and drop boxes placed in certain communities for voters to drop off their ballots. Because ballots could be postmarked as late as July 7, official numbers won't be available for several days or up to a week.
Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman congratulated Kennedy on her win and commended Harrison and Cunningham for conducting strong campaigns. He said the committee would back Kennedy in making Jeff Van Drew a one-term congressman.
Harrison, who has a Ph.D. in political science and is a college professor at Montclair State University, was the first candidate to challenge Van Drew shortly after he switched parties. She was endorsed by leading Democrats, including U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney, and NJ Assemblymen John Armato and Vince Mazzeo. Kennedy garnered support from the Atlantic City Democrats and NJ Gov. Phil Murphy.
Harrison said it was a disappointing night for me, but that it was a great moment for Democrats.
She pledged to unite voters against the four years of abuse and criminal behavior of the president and urged all Democrats to be united and do whatever they can to ensure Kennedy is elected in November.
Jeff Van Drew must go, she said. We can't beat Van Drew unless we are united.
Kennedy was joined by the governor and his wife, Tammy Murphy.
Gov. Murphy said Kennedy being chosen as the Democrat candidate was like South Jersey winning the lottery. He called her an extraordinary candidate, who cares deeply about the district.
She is the real deal, Murphy said.
Kennedy thanked Murphy for his endorsement and said she is willing to work to bring change to South Jersey and defeat Van Drew and Donald Trump.
We will turn the district blue again, she said. My message to Van Drew tonight is, we have had enough, and we demand better. We have had enough division, enough hate and selfishness, we have had enough being abandoned, mistreated and forgotten. We have had enough of you and Donald Trump.
Kennedy said she would uphold Democratic values and will unite instead of dividing people.
I know you are ready for change and to fight for a stronger, more equitable South Jersey, she told supporters. I'm ready to fight for a South Jersey all of our families deserve.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew with President Donald J. Trump
Van Drew easily won the Republican primary over challenger Bob Patterson of Ocean City, taking 80% of the votes.
In a statement, Van Drew thanked the president and South Jersey Republicans for their support.
While the Democrats were tripping over each other to appease the Radical Left in a bitter and divisive primary, our Republican Party came together and is united as we head into the General Election, he said.
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