Five Reasons the Defection of Van Drew Is About More Than Trump

At least six staffers of Congressman Jeff Van Drew have resigned in protest against the weekend announcement that the New Jersey Democrat is switching to the Republican Party. He was one of only two Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives who voted against the impeachment inquiry, and President Trump is popular in Van Drew's district. But here are five reasons why Van Drew’s defection is also about more than the politics of Trump. 

1. Jeff Van Drew was a very conservative Democrat at a time when the state party is moving left. His vote against impeachment was only the most recent disappointment for Democrats.

2. He was part of the George Norcross machine.  Van Drew won his purple district in 2018 with the help of the south Jersey Democratic boss George Norcross. Two years ago, Norcross endorsed Van Drew before he had actually announced his candidacy. But now the machine is under pressure from progressive activists, and Norcross has distanced himself from Van Drew. 

3. This district might have voted for Trump in 2016, but it is more purple than solidly red. President Obama won the district in 2012. And Congressional Districts in the northern part of New Jersey are steadily shifting Democratic after decades of Republican control. 

4. A statewide fight for power between Norcross and Gov. Phil Murphy may turn this district's Democratic primary into a huge, expensive fight. The civil war in the New Jersey Democratic Party is being fought on several fronts: in the Legislature, with Norcross ally Stephen Sweeney, the Senate president, blocking popular Murphy initiatives; the governor’s investigation into the corporate tax break program, which is calling into question more than a billion dollars in tax credits to Norcross-connected businesses in Camden; and the fight over the next state chairman of the Democratic Party.

5. The entrance of a new wave of progressive activists has changed New Jersey politics. It's been almost a month since Sue Altman of New Jersey Working Families was dragged out of a statehouse hearing, thought to have been done to get her out of the room before George Norcross testified. Legislators, reporters and activists are still talking about it. Also, just before the November election, an editorial in the Cape May Standard called on Democrats to reject the machine candidates, who were called "Team Van Drew." It was an act of political harikari to give the seats to Republicans, as a way to fight the Norcross Democratic machine. The involvement of progressive activists could tip the balance of power in the fight between Murphy and Norcross.