Van Drew wins GOP congressional primary, facing Democrat Tim Alexander in fall

BRIDGETON – The June 7 primary election yielded clear winners in the second congressional district race in both the Republican and Democratic contests, although the results remain unofficial for a little while.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2, a Dennis Township resident, decisively defeated two challengers in his effort to win a third term in office. Van Drew has at least 32,813 votes.

Republican challengers John Barker, of Ocean County, and Sean Pignatelli, a Downe Township resident, had attacked the incumbent as not truly committed to Republican positions. Barker pulled in 3,039 votes and Pignatelli 2,313 votes.

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Van Drew’s opponent this fall will be Democrat Tim Alexander, who defeated Carolyn Rush of Sea Isle City. Alexander, of Galloway Township, picked up 13,406 votes to her 8,578 votes.

The 2nd District includes Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties. It also takes in portions of Gloucester and Ocean counties.

Van Drew won in each county. Alexander finished first in every county except Gloucester, where Rush finished with 2,059 votes to his 1,345 votes.

Candidates for the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners also faced off in Tuesday’s primary election, although neither the Democratic nor Republican races were contested. There were two candidates for two board seats in both races.

Republican Commissioner Douglas Albrecht finished with 4,310 votes and running mate Victoria Lods with 4,165.

Democratic Commissioner Darlene Barber, who leads the seven-member county board, had 4,416 votes. Running mate Priscilla Ocasio-Jimenez had 4,342 votes.

Party control of the board could change based on the 2022 election.

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey more than 30 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Help support local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Vineland Daily Journal: 2022 House race matches GOP incumbent Van Drew, Democrat Alexander