WASHINGTON, D.C. — It wasn’t the best start.
Newly-minted Congressman Jeff Van Drew (D, NJ-02) kicked off his House career on Thursday voting against Nancy Pelosi for speaker. Unfortunately for Van Drew, “NO” wasn’t an option.
And Twitter predictably pounced, causing Van Drew to actually trend on Twitter on his first day in Congress:
Three voted “present:” Jeff Van Drew;
Elissa Slotkin; Jim Cooper— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/amysrosenberg/status/1080897166850359299
Jeff Van Drew votes "No."
Not sure how we count that one, but okay.
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) January 3, 2019
I told Rep. Jeff Van Drew a few months ago he couldn’t vote no. it wasn’t an option. He voted no.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2019
update: the chair ruled that Van Drew could not vote no, and they changed his vote to present. https://t.co/JBn52zlfbv
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2019
The Left (on Twitter) wasn’t pleased:
Time for primary challenges, fuckers. And Jeff Van Drew, enjoy your 24 months in Congress. https://t.co/VHYOxW4RYq
— Landon Hall (@LandonHall) January 3, 2019
Jeff Van Drew: voted no on background checks. voted no on same-sex marriage, voted no on raising the minimum wage. Now he tries (and fails) to vote “no” on Pelosi.
All for a big tent party but what does this guy do for Democrats? https://t.co/yEnMpFz6lW
— Stephen Paduano (@StephenPaduano) January 3, 2019
So Jeff Van Drew is going to be the dumbest member or the dem caucus.
— Ash-Kate Hotchkiss (@AHotchchick) January 3, 2019
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Van Drew won a relatively narrow single digit race in the sprawling, southern N.J. district in November, one which voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016, Kim Guadagno (R) in 2017, AND Bob Hugin (R) in 2018. His close-run victory came about despite dramatically outspending his Republican opponent in the general election.
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