Atlantic County Freeholder Ashley Bennett to Challenge Jeff Van Drew for Congressional Seat
Ashley Bennett.
By Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media
PLEASANTVILLE – Ashley Bennett, who made national headlines in 2017 beating out an incumbent Republican Atlantic County Freeholder who made light of the national Women’s March, announced this month she has her eye on another incumbent in U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew.
Bennett said earlier this month that she will join a crowded field of Democratic candidates for the right to face Van Drew, who made national headlines himself by switching parties to vote against the impeachment of President Donald Trump in Congress.
“While we must address the betrayal of the hard working people of [New Jersey Congressional District 2] who voted in good faith to put Congressman Jeff Van Drew in office, actually watching him cast a NO vote during the Impeachment Vote tonight was the final insult to the proverbial injury,” Bennett said in a statement before her formal announcement.
READ: Ashley Bennett Settles In After Stunning Election That Booted Women’s March Foe
Before facing Van Drew, Bennett would have to win the Democrat nomination, which also includes from prominent names. Montclair State University professor Brigid Callahan Harrison and West Cape May Commissioner John Francis are running while the wife of former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Brigantine’s Amy Kennedy, has announced she has formed an exploratory committee, according to The Press of Atlantic City.
Bennett’s fellow Atlantic County Freeholder Ernest Coursey, has already endorsed Harrison.
Van Drew, running as a Democrat, edged out Republican Seth Grossman in the 2018 election to replace district’s longtime Republican Congressman Frank LoBiondo.
READ: Ashley Bennett, Samantha Whitfield Among 2019 NAACP NextGen Class
Bennett, whose freeholder district covers Egg Harbor Township and Hamilton Township said she understand the needs of the district and will be the best person to represent all of its constituents.
“It is time to put the focus back on the many hard working families that make up the district and that’s exactly what I intend to do,” Bennett said.
A Trump Super PAC is already running ads telling local voters to support Van Drew in the upcoming election and thank him for not voting for impeachment.
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