Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew, the controversial party-switching lawmaker, has narrowly won re-election from his southern New Jersey district, turning back a fierce Democratic challenge, the Associated Press projected Friday.
Van Drew scored 52 percent of the vote in New Jersey’s 2nd District, narrowly besting Amy Kennedy, who has netted 47 percent of the ballots tallied so far, with 80 percent of precincts reporting.
He declared victory late Tuesday, but the race would remain uncalled for days.
The lawmaker enraged local Democrats when he announced in 2019 he was ditching the party to join the Republicans, declaring himself an ally of President Trump.
That triggered a fierce primary contest won by Kennedy, the latest member of the famed clan to seek public office.