the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Hill is reporting that freshman Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (D-N.J.), a vocal opponent of impeachment, plans to switch parties and join the GOP after meeting with President Trump on Friday, Democratic sources told The Hill.
Van Drew has begun informing his staff and fellow New Jersey lawmakers that he will leave the Democratic Party, according to two Democratic senior aides. His decision, first reported by The Washington Post, comes just a day after he had a lengthy meeting at the White House with Trump.
A former dentist, Van Drew replaced former Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), who served 12 terms before retiring at the end of the last Congress. Adopting the historically red district, Van Drew moved quickly to distance himself from the liberal wing of the House Democratic Caucus, voting “present” during the election of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for Speaker in January and joining the conservative-leaning Blue Dog Democrats shortly thereafter.
