Cory Booker is now campaigning against ex-Democrat who endorsed him

The reported decision by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-N.J.) to switch parties was sure to have some consequences from his soon-to-be former Democratic colleagues. And he's already facing them in his own backyard.

Van Drew had previously endorsed Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in his bid for the presidency in a show of in-state loyalty. But Booker won't be returning the favor. Unsurprisingly, the senator doesn't seem very happy that the congressman is switching sides, and he wants New Jerseyans to help support whoever winds up as Van Drew's Democratic challenger in his own House re-election bid.

The cross-aisle transition will be interesting to watch, and there's some speculation about whether President Trump will support his candidacy in the long run, either. Van Drew is a centrist Democrat, but he has stuck with the party on nearly every major piece of legislation since he was sworn in in 2019, making his anti-impeachment stance the only major Republican cause he's taken up so far. Tim O'Donnell

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up