Democrats Challenge Rep. Van Drew in 2026 NJ-02 Race
Democrats are gearing up to challenge Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) in New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in 2026. The 2nd district, which voted for Donald Trump by double digits in 2024, has seen increased Democratic interest. Bayly Winder, a former USAID official, leads the fundraising race among Democratic hopefuls.
Winder raised a total of $310,780 for his campaign, with $201,333 on-hand at the end of September. This makes him the best-funded Democratic opponent, having raised $139,228 in the 3rd quarter alone. Other Democratic candidates, Terri Reese and Bill Finn, have not yet filed their Q3 fundraising reports.
Tim Alexander, the 2022 Democratic nominee, raised over $9,000 and has $1,470 left in his campaign account. An outside Democratic group has polled the district and believes Rep. Van Drew to be potentially vulnerable. Van Drew, for his part, raised $368,910 in the 3rd quarter of 2025, ending with $1,110,378 on-hand.
The 2026 race in New Jersey's 2nd district is shaping up to be a competitive one. While Winder leads in fundraising, other Democratic candidates are expected to file their reports soon. Van Drew, the incumbent Republican, has a significant war chest but faces a potentially vulnerable position according to Democratic polls.
