Democrats Added New Jersey 2nd District to Target List
The DCCC named the seat among eight new targets for the 2026 midterm elections.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Elections
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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District to its list of 66 targeted races on October 2, 2026. Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock is challenging incumbent Representative Jeff Van Drew for the seat.
Why it matters
The committee identifies vulnerable Republican-held seats to influence control of the House. By targeting this district, they aim to capitalize on shifting demographics and recent off-year election performance metrics.
The DCCC now tracks 66 districts as competitive following the addition of eight new races. Suburban residents currently make up 60 percent of the electorate in New Jersey's 2nd District.
The players
Jeff Van Drew
He is the incumbent Representative who switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 2019.
Zack Mullock
He currently serves as the mayor of Cape May and is running as the Democratic challenger for the 2nd Congressional District seat.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
This organization works to elect Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives and manages campaign strategies for targeted districts.
Donald Trump
He is the current President of the United States who secured a 13-point victory in New Jersey's 2nd District in 2024.
Mikie Sherrill
She is the Governor of New Jersey who achieved a single-digit margin in the district during the 2025 election cycle.
The details
Representative Jeff Van Drew switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in 2019. Despite the DCCC's new designation, the race remains rated as Solid Republican by Inside Elections, following Donald Trump's 13-point victory in the district in 2024.
Timeline
Jeff Van Drew switched political parties in 2019.
Donald Trump won the 2nd District by 13 points in 2024.
Mikie Sherrill performed well in the district during the 2025 governor's race.
The DCCC added eight districts to its target list on October 2, 2026.
Congressional midterm elections are scheduled for November 2026.
Political Context
Opponents of this strategy often argue that the DCCC's off-year performance criteria for district viability fail to account for the unique local brand of an incumbent like Van Drew. Republican leadership maintains that the 13-point victory margin from 2024 provides a durable firewall against Democratic attempts to reclaim the seat.
Residents of the 2nd District can expect an increase in political advertising and campaign outreach as the DCCC invests resources into the area. This push may influence local discussions on infrastructure funding and federal representation in the state.
The takeaway
The DCCC's decision highlights the importance of suburban voter trends in determining the outcome of House races. Voters should monitor how campaign spending and party platform adjustments affect the local district contest leading up to November.
What happens next
The congressional midterm elections will take place in November 2026.
Further reading
For more on the upcoming political landscape, see our Elections coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Centraljersey.
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