The sphere of Democrats vying to oust Consultant Jeff Van Drew obtained extra crowded on Monday as Amy Kennedy, the spouse of former Consultant Pat
The sphere of Democrats vying to oust Consultant Jeff Van Drew obtained extra crowded on Monday as Amy Kennedy, the spouse of former Consultant Patrick Kennedy, entered the race, bringing the moment identify recognition of a political dynasty to an already sturdy group operating for the New Jersey congressional seat.
Ms. Kennedy, who described herself as a former trainer and a mom of 5 in a minute-long YouTube video saying her candidacy, didn’t point out Mr. Van Drew’s defection from the Democratic Celebration final month or his pledge of “undying support” for President Trump.
However the video did embody a picture of Mr. Van Drew shaking the president’s hand within the Oval Workplace as he introduced he would be a part of the Republicans, someday after the South Jersey lawmaker voted against impeaching Mr. Trump.
“Too a lot of our leaders have misplaced their ethical compass,” she mentioned within the video clip. “Trump and Van Drew are signs of an even bigger illness infecting our nation and our politics.”
Ms. Kennedy’s husband is a former Rhode Island congressman and the son of former Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts.
Mr. Van Drew, a first-term congressman who was elected as a conservative Democrat, represents a district the Republican president gained by about 5 factors in 2016.
Ms. Kennedy, within the transient video, touched on what are more likely to kind the broad themes of her marketing campaign: civility, local weather change, psychological well being and dependancy, and company tax incentives.
“We proceed to disregard the most important public well being emergency of our time — the psychological well being and dependancy disaster that impacts nearly each household,” she mentioned.
She added, “Folks in South Jersey can’t discover good jobs, however the richest companies pay virtually no taxes.”
Ms. Kennedy, who lives north of Atlantic Metropolis in Brigantine, couldn’t be reached for remark.
If Ms. Kennedy have been to win the nomination, she wouldn’t be the one Kennedy campaigning for Congress. Consultant Joe Kennedy III, the grandson of the previous legal professional normal, Robert F. Kennedy, is operating for the Senate from Massachusetts.
4 different Democrats have already entered the first race within the Second Congressional District, which cuts throughout New Jersey’s southernmost counties and stretches from Cape Might to the Pennsylvania border.
Brigid Callahan Harrison, a professor who teaches political science at Montclair State College, introduced her candidacy the identical week Mr. Van Drew mentioned he would be a part of the Republicans, a shift that prompted most of his staff members to quit.
Professor Harrison was rapidly endorsed by most of the Democratic Celebration leaders within the district who maintain sway over whose identify will seem on the celebration’s coveted poll line within the June major.
Ashley Bennett, a freeholder representing Atlantic County who appeared on a 2018 cowl of Time magazine with different progressive ladies, additionally has introduced she is operating for the Democratic nomination for the congressional seat.
Ms. Bennett has mentioned she intends to deal with points affecting New Jersey’s working class, and is probably going to attract assist from the state’s more and more energetic grass-roots organizations.
John Francis III, a commissioner in West Cape Might, and Robert Turkavage, a former F.B.I. agent who final month switched from the Republican Celebration to the Democratic Celebration, have additionally introduced they’ll run within the Democratic major.
Not less than three Republicans, together with David Richter, a former businessman who has mentioned he’ll spend $1 million of his personal cash on his marketing campaign, are also anticipated to compete towards Mr. Van Drew for the Republican nomination.
Benjamin A. Dworkin, a professor of political science at Rowan College and the director of the college’s Institute for Public Coverage & Citizenship, mentioned Ms. Kennedy’s entry into the race had the potential to alter the taking part in discipline.
He famous that the Democratic candidates’ success at elevating marketing campaign funds is more likely to be key to the first race and the overall election, particularly in southern New Jersey, which is throughout the dear Philadelphia media market.
Professor Harrison’s assist from established Democratic Celebration leaders within the space will presumably assist her fund-raising efforts, he mentioned, and the Kennedy household’s community of donors is anticipated to work to Ms. Kennedy’s benefit.
“There may be a longtime Kennedy fund-raising community that she is going to have the ability to faucet into and can enable her to be effectively financed on this race, which actually issues,” Dr. Dworkin mentioned.
A candidate’s capability to independently generate funds is much more essential in a yr when the nationwide Democratic group is more likely to be centered on defending the three different congressional seats that the party flipped in 2018 in New Jersey swing districts, he mentioned.
“Democrats don’t want it as a lot as they did in 2018,” Dr. Dworkin mentioned. “You may lose Van Drew’s seat and nonetheless keep the bulk, so it’s not practically as vital.”
Professor Harrison mentioned she welcomed…