New Jersey Congressman Won’t Seek State Teacher Union Endorsement

United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew, NJ-R-2, already knows that the game is over before it even begins with the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA).

Van Drew Will Not Participate In The Endorsement Process

United States Congressman Jeff Can Drew photo.

Van Drew has written a letter, which we are publishing in its entirety below.

In part, Van Drew wrote the following to the NJEA government relations associate director:

While I have been appreciative of the NJEA's support, or at least neutrality, in some previous years, it has become increasingly clear that to seek your endorsement at this time would almost certainly be a fruitless endeavor given the current unfortunate realities. I do appreciate your offer. However I must respectfully decline your invitation, wrote Van Drew.

Van Drew Makes It Clear

That he supports teachers … this is merely a byproduct of politics in America, today.

Van Drew could deliver the perfect interview and there is simply no chance that the NJEA would endorse a pro-Trump, conservative Republican in these disturbingly divided times in America.

It Would Be An Exercise In Futility

Here is a Van Drew social media post from June 23, 2026:

Congressman Van Drew always has and always will support our students and teachers in the classroom, which is why we can't in good conscience seek the endorsement of an organization willing to take more than $20 MILLION AWAY from New Jersey's public schools in order to hire lawyers for CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS to fight their deportation in Federal Court. It's complete insanity! Our focus needs to be on helping our struggling school districts to ensure our educators have the resources they need and that our students are the best and brightest anywhere in the world.

Big Money Spent

Don’t forget that the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) and its affiliated Super PACs spent somewhere between $40 million and $45 million in mandatory member dues to support the failed gubernatorial campaign of former NJEA union president Sean Spiller.

The spending of this large amount of dues member dollars has understandably been the source of controversy and litigation.