Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew concedes to Democrat Zack Mullock in N.J.’s 2nd District race

Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew has conceded to his Democratic challenger, Zack Mullock.

Van Drew told supporters he had already conceded to Mullock, despite the race not having been called by the Associated Press as of 1 a.m.

“He is and will be our new congressman for the next two years, and I wish him the very best,” Van Drew said.

One week ago, the Cook Political Report rated the race “solid Republican,” adding that a “huge wave” would have to put the seat in play. By the weekend, they changed the rating to “likely Republican” after Mullock received a boost from a super PAC.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who spent time earlier in the evening with Democrat Rebecca Bennett, who defeated Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr., made her way to Mullock’s election night party at the Chalfonte Hotel in Cape May.

During her introduction to Mullock, she noted she was elected to Congress the same year as Van Drew, who ran then as a Democrat.

“This is a full circle moment because he came into Congress on a blue wave and he left Congress on a blue wave,” Sherrill said.