Rep. Jeff Van Drew, one of two House Democrats who do not support articles of impeachment against President Trump, is likely to switch parties.
“Several high-level sources with ties to Van Drew” said his chief of staff has notified the lawmaker’s campaign and congressional staffs that he’s switching to the GOP, the New Jersey Globe reported Saturday.
A representative for Van Drew has not yet returned a request for comment from the Washington Examiner.
Van Drew was elected in 2018 to fill the seat held for more than two decades by Republican Frank LoBiondo, who retired.
Van Drew was facing a difficult reelection bid. His seat was rated “toss-up” by many election analysts, and in addition, liberal Democrats were threatening to challenge him in a primary due to his opposition to impeachment.
Van Drew told the Washington Examiner this week he did not want to discuss impeaching Trump.
“Honestly, I’m just tired of talking about it,” Van Drew said as he left the House chamber. “I’m taking a break. I’m not getting into this. I’m going to wait until I know everything. Right now, I’m radio silence.”
Polling indicated Van Drew would not win a likely Democratic primary.
Party switches are rare in Congress.
Only two representatives have changed parties in the last decade. The most recent was Justin Amash from Michigan, who dropped the Republican party label and became an independent because of his opposition to Trump.