House Democrats embrace pro-gun candidate Jeff Van Drew for Jersey Shore seat

For a district that covers part of Ocean County, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says it will start giving fundraising and organizational support to a midterm candidate who voted against gay marriage and gun control measures backed by fellow Democrats.

Democratic state Sen. Jeff Van Drew is among four potential contenders in the party's primary election for the House seat held by the retiring Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., in New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District. For more on the Jersey Shore's four House seats, watch the video at the top of the page.

The Ocean County section of the district is made up of Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Eagleswood, Harvey Cedars, Little Egg Harbor, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom, part of Stafford, Surf City and Tuckerton.

Van Drew has been in the New Jersey Legislature since 2002. In 2010 he introduced a bill to loosen state requirements for permits to carry a handgun – applicants would no longer have to establish the court standard of “justifiable need,” but rather simply show they are “qualified” to carry. The bill was controversial and Van Drew withdrew it.

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Van Drew, who could not be reached for comment, since then voted against gun control bills from Democrats on reducing the maximum capacity of ammunition magazines and requiring that certain firearms information be collected and reported.

Van Drew was one of only two Senate Democrats to vote against gay marriage in 2012. He also joined Republicans for the last eight years in sponsoring a proposed constitutional amendment that a parent receive notice if a child a undergoes a medical or surgical procedure or treatment relating to pregnancy, and, in the last several years, a bill that restores the death penalty for certain murders. Van Drew removed himself as a sponsor from both bills in January.

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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced its support for Van Drew on Tuesday at a time when students at the Florida school where 17 people died last week have been organizing nationwide marches for gun control and pressuring Congress to take action.

The DCCC in a statement said Van Drew was picked for support because he had surpassed "aggressive goals for grassroots engagement, local support, campaign organization and fundraising." Officials did not respond to an inquiry on whether his record as a New Jersey lawmaker had been considered.

The DCCC, the official campaign arm of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, recruits candidates, raises funds and organizes races in districts that are expected to yield "politically notable or close elections," the group’s website says.

Democrats elsewhere are campaigning on gun control reform. Still, a Seton Hall University political scientist says the national Democrats' support for Van Drew is no surprise.

"I don't think you can characterize Van Drew as a poster child for the NRA. He is a center-right Democrat, which can win in that district. That is what matters most," said Seton Hall’s Matthew Hale.

"Democrats in that part of the state are significantly more conservative than other parts of the state," said Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray.

Besides the portion of Ocean County, the 2nd District consists of all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties plus sections of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties.

For the national Democrats, it’s all about winning a majority in the House in the November midterms, Hale said.

"I think it is dangerous for either party to have some kind of ideological purity test. Policy solutions are not always black and white. Both parties need people in the middle who understand that," Hale said. "Democrats have a choice in the 2nd District – run a centrist and likely win, or run a liberal and get killed. Kind of an easy call."

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With LoBiondo moving out of the picture in the 2nd District, the other potential candidates to replace him are Democrats Tanzie Youngblood, Sean Thom and William Cunningham, while Republicans Hirsh Singh, Robert Turkavage, James Toto and Brian Fitzherbert are looking to keep the seat for the GOP. The primary election is June 5 and the general election is Nov. 6.

In the race for campaign cash, Van Drew is the leader so far with $80,100. Youngblood has $10,700 and Thom has $8,600.

Bob Jordan bjordan@gannettnj.com