In the race to pick a Democratic challenger to take on Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) in New Jersey’s 2nd district, former prosecutor Tom Alexander narrowly won the Salem County Democratic convention today.
Alexander edged out Cape May Mayor Zachary Mullock by three votes, 18-15, with one vote each for Bayly Winder and Terri Reese. A fifth candidate, Bill Finn, a special education teacher, was shut out. Alexander, Mullock, and Winder attended the convention.
This is Alexander’s third bid for Congress. Van Drew defeated him by 19 points in 2022, and he lost a close Democratic primary for a rematch in 2024.
Alexander won the Atlantic County Democratic convention by six votes, and also won the endorsement in Cumberland County; Mullock has party support in his come county of Cape May.
In the U.S. Senate race, Salem Democrats endorsed Cory Booker by acclamation.
Two years ago, Salem County made up about 7.4% of the votes in the Democratic primary for Congress in NJ-2.
