Tim Alexander Wins Democratic Primary for Congress; Will Face Van Drew in November
Tim Alexander. Photo courtesy Tim Alexander.
By Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media
ATLANTIC CITY — Civil Rights Attorney Tim Alexander won the Democratic nomination for New Jersey’s Second Congressional District Tuesday, the first African American male selected by a major political party as its nominee in the district.
Alexander, a former law enforcement officer, will now take on Republican incumbent Rep. Jeff Van Drew, which is anticipated to be a high-profile race that could have a major impact on which party controls the House of Representatives this fall.
Alexander ran a spirited campaign against engineer Carolyn Rush for the nomination. The New York Times called the race for Alexander late Tuesday after he captured 63% of the vote to Rush’s 38% with 57% of the vote counted.
“I am so honored and humbled by tonight’s results,” Alexander said in a statement late Tuesday. “I want to start by saying thank you; to my family and friends who helped me get started when this campaign was just an idea; to all of my early supporters who helped shape and direct our vision; to my tireless team who have been working around the clock to make tonight’s results a reality; to all of the leaders, organizations, and committees who endorsed me publicly; and of course to the voters of South Jersey who came out to make their voices heard.”
Van Drew easily defeated two Republican candidates in its primary. It sets up what will probably be one of the most closely watched races in the country. Van Drew originally won the district as a Democrat in 2018 but made national headlines when he sided with former Republican President Donald Trump during impeachment hearings and switched parties.
With the full support of Trump, Van Drew won re-election in 2020 in a tight race against Amy Kennedy, which took days after the vote to decide. Kennedy and her husband, former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, both backed Alexander in his current race against Van Drew.
“We still have a long road ahead of us to get rid of Jeff Van Drew and bring real representation to South Jersey,” Alexander said. “But I am confident that if we continue to put in the hard work and spread our message, we will be victorious.
“South Jerseyans are fed up with the inaction and want a Congressman who does more than show up for ribbon cuttings and give TV interviews. When I am elected, I will put in the hard work to defend our rights, create economic opportunities, and get South Jersey our fair share.”
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