Democratic Rep. Jeff Van Drew (N.J.), one of the only Democratic lawmakers to vocally oppose President Donald Trump's impeachment, is switching political parties, according to multiple reports.
Politico reported that "the question now was when, not if, Van Drew was joining the Republican Party."
The Washington Post reported:
Officials said Saturday that Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, a vocally anti-impeachment Democrat, will join the Republican Party in the coming days following a Friday meeting with President Trump — a move that would put a political chill on the Democrats' expected vote to impeach Trump next week.-- excerpt, rest at link above --
******************** However, I understand he has voted with Pelosi on almost every other issue.
Eddie Zipperer @EddieZipperer · 1m When you have no desire to be a member the band playing while the Titanic goes under 👇 Quote Tweet Melanie Zanona @MZanona · 1h CONFIRMED: Democratic Rep. Jeff Van Drew has informed staff he is SWITCHING PARTIES and will become a Republican, following a lengthy meeting w/ Trump.
And senior Dems have been scrambling to reach him all day.
Impeachment Backfire: House Democrat To Become a Republican Townhall, Dec 14, 2019
Impeachment is already backfiring on the Democrats even before the full House votes on two articles of impeachment. A Democratic member of Congress is preparing to switch parties, joining Republicans amid the Democrat-led impeachment effort that has put dozens of moderate Democrats in a tough position with their Trump-supporting constituents.
Representative Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey has been in talks with top advisors for President Trump, according to The New York Times. Mr. Van Drew is concerned about losing his seat in the Democratic primary or in the 2020 general election. Van Drew's district is a traditionally Republican district that voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
Van Drew won his seat in the 2018 midterm elections, following the retirement of former Republican Congressman Frank LoBiondo who represented New Jersey's second district for 24 years.
In a recent interview, Van Drew told Fox Business that some of his fellow House Democrats shared his concerns about the partisan impeachment of President Trump. Van Drew was one of two Democrats who joined with every single Republican in the House to vote against the impeachment inquiry resolution.
"My district is red — a good chunk of it — and they're definitely anti-impeachment," Van Drew recently told NBC News. "And then I have the part that is purple, and they are more pro-impeachment. So whatever you do, you're going to aggravate people."
According to the Times, sources expect Van Drew to make an official announcement about his switch to the Republican party sometime in the upcoming week, either immediately before or after the House votes to send two articles of impeachment to the Senate, both of which are expected to go nowhere.
Donald J. Trump Verified account @realDonaldTrump
Thank you for your honesty Jeff. All of the Democrats know you are right, but unlike you, they don’t have the “guts” to say so!
QuoteManu Raju @mkraju Jeff Van Drew, who was one of two Ds to vote against moving on an inquiry, just made clear to me he plans to vote against both articles of impeachment
“As I said before, my position never changed unless there was something new
Democrat Rep. Collin Peterson Confirms He’ll Vote Against Impeaching Breitbart, Dec 14, 2019
Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), chairman the House Committee on Agriculture, confirmed Saturday that he plans to vote against impeaching President Donald Trump over his contacts with Ukraine unless, in the unlikely event, additional information comes to light.
Speaking to The Globe on Saturday, Peterson, Minnesota’s most senior member, said, “unless they come up with something between now and Wednesday,” he will vote against impeachment and expects up to five other Democrats to join him.
“Maybe something will change. I doubt it,” the lawmaker added.
The Minnesota Democrat said he believes that the president has “not committed a crime,” while most of his Seventh District constituents oppose the U.S. providing aid to other counties. He also noted the so-called “whistleblower” complaint — authored by a partisan CIA analyst — regarding President Trump’s July 25 telephone with the leader of Ukraine includes “second-hand” information.
Democrat Rep. Collin Peterson Confirms He’ll Vote Against Impeaching Breitbart, Dec 14, 2019
Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), chairman the House Committee on Agriculture, confirmed Saturday that he plans to vote against impeaching President Donald Trump over his contacts with Ukraine unless, in the unlikely event, additional information comes to light.
Speaking to The Globe on Saturday, Peterson, Minnesota’s most senior member, said, “unless they come up with something between now and Wednesday,” he will vote against impeachment and expects up to five other Democrats to join him.
“Maybe something will change. I doubt it,” the lawmaker added.
The Minnesota Democrat said he believes that the president has “not committed a crime,” while most of his Seventh District constituents oppose the U.S. providing aid to other counties. He also noted the so-called “whistleblower” complaint — authored by a partisan CIA analyst — regarding President Trump’s July 25 telephone with the leader of Ukraine includes “second-hand” information.