New Jersey Democrats Eying GOP Seats Ahead of Midterms
Two weeks after Mikie Sherrill's resounding victory over Jack Ciattarelli in the recent governor's race, her party is looking to capitalize on Republican vulnerabilities in next year's midterms. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has set its sights on flipping a few GOP seats, starting with Rep. Tom Kean Jr., who won his seat by just one point in November.
Experts say Kean faces a growing field of well-funded challengers and the backing of national organizations like the DCCC. "Tom Kean should be worried," said Matthew Hale, a politics professor at Seton Hall University. "The fact that so many Democrats are jumping in is because they sense vulnerability, and so they're lining up to take a shot."
Kean's vulnerability stems from his party's struggles with affordability issues like rising healthcare costs. Sherrill, who has already shown that Democrats can win in traditionally Republican strongholds, may be the key to flipping Kean's seat.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is preparing to throw its financial support behind whoever emerges as the Democratic nominee for the seat. "Governor-elect Sherrill cleaned Jack Ciattarelli's clock with a relentless focus on affordability," said Eli Cousin, DCCC press secretary. "That's bad news for career politician Tom Kean Jr., whose record includes voting to jack up New Jerseyans' electricity bills and failing to prevent healthcare premiums from skyrocketing."
Kean's alignment with President Donald Trump during his second term may also be a liability, as the party of the president in power tends not to fare well in midterms following a presidential election. Polls show that a majority of New Jerseyans disapprove of Trump's job performance.
While some Republicans are confident in Kean's chances for reelection, others are taking a wait-and-see approach. "Tom Kean Jr.'s fundraising and record tell you everything you need to know: He continues to deliver win after win for New Jersey, and voters are fired up to send him back to DC," said Maureen O'Toole, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Rep. Jeff Van Drew's seat in South Jersey is also seen as vulnerable. The Democratic strategist Simon Persico believes that Van Drew faces a growing field of challengers and that the stage is set for a blue wave similar to 2018. "In a Democratic wave environment, Jeff Van Drew goes," said Persico.
Van Drew's campaign has a war chest of over $1 million, but his challenger Bayly Winder has raised the most money so far, with over $300,000 in her coffers. However, Sherrill's performance may signal a larger political shift in South Jersey, with three counties in Van Drew's district flipping from red to blue in 2025.
Two weeks after Mikie Sherrill's resounding victory over Jack Ciattarelli in the recent governor's race, her party is looking to capitalize on Republican vulnerabilities in next year's midterms. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has set its sights on flipping a few GOP seats, starting with Rep. Tom Kean Jr., who won his seat by just one point in November.
Experts say Kean faces a growing field of well-funded challengers and the backing of national organizations like the DCCC. "Tom Kean should be worried," said Matthew Hale, a politics professor at Seton Hall University. "The fact that so many Democrats are jumping in is because they sense vulnerability, and so they're lining up to take a shot."
Kean's vulnerability stems from his party's struggles with affordability issues like rising healthcare costs. Sherrill, who has already shown that Democrats can win in traditionally Republican strongholds, may be the key to flipping Kean's seat.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is preparing to throw its financial support behind whoever emerges as the Democratic nominee for the seat. "Governor-elect Sherrill cleaned Jack Ciattarelli's clock with a relentless focus on affordability," said Eli Cousin, DCCC press secretary. "That's bad news for career politician Tom Kean Jr., whose record includes voting to jack up New Jerseyans' electricity bills and failing to prevent healthcare premiums from skyrocketing."
Kean's alignment with President Donald Trump during his second term may also be a liability, as the party of the president in power tends not to fare well in midterms following a presidential election. Polls show that a majority of New Jerseyans disapprove of Trump's job performance.
While some Republicans are confident in Kean's chances for reelection, others are taking a wait-and-see approach. "Tom Kean Jr.'s fundraising and record tell you everything you need to know: He continues to deliver win after win for New Jersey, and voters are fired up to send him back to DC," said Maureen O'Toole, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Rep. Jeff Van Drew's seat in South Jersey is also seen as vulnerable. The Democratic strategist Simon Persico believes that Van Drew faces a growing field of challengers and that the stage is set for a blue wave similar to 2018. "In a Democratic wave environment, Jeff Van Drew goes," said Persico.
Van Drew's campaign has a war chest of over $1 million, but his challenger Bayly Winder has raised the most money so far, with over $300,000 in her coffers. However, Sherrill's performance may signal a larger political shift in South Jersey, with three counties in Van Drew's district flipping from red to blue in 2025.
! I'm loving how the Democrats are already taking aim at those vulnerable GOP seats. I mean, let's be real, affordability issues are a major concern for so many people, and it sounds like Sherrill's got that on lock 
. If she can win in traditionally Republican strongholds, why not flip Kean's seat? And don't even get me started on Trump - that guy is a liability 
. The polls showing NJans disapproving of him is EVERYTHING to the Democratic party. I'm all about rooting for underdogs, and it sounds like Van Drew might be in trouble 
. Bring on the blue wave! 
they cant win on healthcare costs alone, but it's like, the bare minumum reqmnts. and Kean Jr? lol what a joke. got in by one point? that's not even close to being reeelected material. we should b focusing on ppl makin a difference, not just swing votes 
. And yeah, Sherrill did slay that governor's race so i'm not surprised she's gunning for more republicans to take down. It's like, they should've learned from 2018 already and now they're getting "reeducated" 
. Van Drew's seat is a no-brainer too, people in south jersey are waking up to the fact that republicans just dont care about their struggles 
... not because they're gonna magically win every seat, but 'cause Republicans are so out of touch with affordability issues 
like rising healthcare costs and electric bills. Kean's trying to cling to his Trump vibes, but that's just gonna sink him in NJ 
. I mean, if Sherrill can take down a governor and Ciattarelli, why not flip some GOP seats? And it's crazy how many Dem challengers are lining up against Kean... that's got to be bad news for him 
.
I mean, Sherrill just smashed it in the governor's race and now they're gonna put all their chips on her winning his seat too? It's like they forgot that Republicans can actually win elections... oh wait, no they didn't. The DCCC's got a lot of money and momentum going for them, and Kean Jr's party is still reeling from the governor's race. And don't even get me started on Trump - he's basically guaranteed to lose in midterms 
meanwhile, sherrill is the real MVP 
. it looks like she might just take kean's seat and show everyone what a real leader looks like 
tom kean jr better step up his game 'cause those challengers are comin' for him 
meanwhile jeff van drew's seat is lookin like a target too... simon persico is right on the money about that blue wave 
i'm not sure if Mikie Sherrill's victory will directly translate to flipping Kean's seat, but her win in NJ shows that Democrats can perform well in traditionally Republican strongholds 
And now she's goin' after his seat? That's just plain bold.
It's like the old saying goes: "You can't stay mad at someone forever." And right now, most people in this state are just plain over it.
. And let's be real, Kean's alignment with Trump isn't exactly helping him out 
.