Jefferson H. Van Drew (born February 23, 1953)[4] is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 2nd congressional district since 2019.

Before being elected to Congress, Van Drew held several public offices, including fire commissioner, town committee member, Mayor of Dennis Township, New Jersey, and Cape May County Freeholder.

[5] In 1994, as a Cape May County Freeholder, Van Drew made support for a local community college a major campaign issue.

"[14] New Jersey's 2nd congressional district had been represented by Republican Frank LoBiondo since 1995, who served 11 terms before announcing his retirement on November 7, 2017.

Upon LoBiondo's retirement announcement, The Cook Political Report changed the district's rating in the 2018 midterms from "Safe Republican" to "Toss-Up".

[15][16][17] On November 29, 2017, Van Drew announced he would run for the open seat, aiming "to bring economic opportunity and good jobs to South Jersey.

[23] After Van Drew's primary win, The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball changed the district's rating to "Likely Democratic".

[28] In December 2019, it was reported that Van Drew was considering switching to the Republican Party for the 2020 elections,[29][30][31] after internal polling showed his stance against Trump's impeachment imperiled him with Democratic voters in his district.

[36][37] After reports that he was planning to switch parties, the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of fiscally conservative Democrats, dropped him from their ranks.

On August 27, Van Drew spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention, discussing his discomfort in his relationship with his former Democratic colleagues in the House and why he supported Trump's reelection.

[58] On December 19, 2019, Van Drew publicly announced his decision to join the Republican Party, telling Trump that he had his "undying support."

[41] In December 2020, Van Drew was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania,[61] a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated Trump, though the filing erroneously placed Van Drew as representing a district in South Carolina.

[62] On January 6, 2021, Van Drew was one of 147 Republican lawmakers who objected to the certification of electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and forced an emergency recess of Congress.

[64] On February 4, 2021, Van Drew voted against removing Marjorie Taylor Greene from her positions on the House Budget and the Education and Labor committees over comments she had made and conspiracy theories she had espoused.

"[66] On November 5, 2021, Van Drew and 12 other House Republicans broke with their party to vote with a majority of Democrats for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

[68] In 2025, Van Drew collaborated with President Donald Trump to freeze offshore wind energy projects in the United States.

[69] In September 2021, Van Drew was among 135 House Republicans to vote for the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022, which contains a provision that would require women to register for the draft.

[70][71] In July 2021, Van Drew voted for the bipartisan ALLIES Act, which would increase by 8,000 the number of special immigrant visas for Afghan allies of the U.S. military during its invasion of Afghanistan, while also reducing some application requirements that caused long application backlogs; the bill passed the House, 407–16.

[76] The bill would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, and protect the free exercise of religion.

[81][82] In 2023, Van Drew sponsored H.R.216, the My Child, My Choice Act,[83] which would revoke federal education funding for schools that do not require teachers to obtain written parental consent before teaching lessons specifically related to gender identity, sexual orientation, or transgender studies, and for other purposes.

[95] In 2010, Van Drew sponsored legislation that would allow residents to carry a handgun after going through a background check, taking a firearms training course, passing a test, and paying a $500 fee.

[96] In 2013, he was the only Democrat to vote against a series of ten gun control bills after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Despite his pro-gun stance, the gun-control group Moms Demand Action designated Van Drew a "Gun Sense Candidate".

[95] In 2012, while serving in the State Senate, Van Drew was one of two Democrats to vote against a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New Jersey.

[100] On his campaign website, he highlighted his support for fully funding the Children's Health Insurance Program and protecting net neutrality.

[102] Van Drew previously voted to withdraw from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and supported the construction of a pipeline through the Pinelands.