CAPE MAY — Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock will face U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew for his seat in New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District in November’s general election.
The Associated Press called Mullock the winner of the Democratic Primary at 9:28 p.m. June 2. The following morning, with 93 percent of the votes counted, Mullock had 16,819 votes, 39.7 percent.
He was followed by Tim Alexander with 11,707 votes, Bayly Winder with 9,319 and Terris Reese with 4,533. In Cape May County, Mullock garnered 4,424, or 70 percent, followed Winder with 1,078, Alexander with 471 and Reese with 312.
Van Drew ran unopposed in the primary, seeking a fifth term representing the district that covers a wide swath of southern New Jersey, including Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties, in addition to a portion of Gloucester, Ocean and Burlington counties.
Mullock waited for the results at his family’s Chalfonte Hotel in Cape May, alongside his campaign team, family, friends and the local community.
“Shock and, honestly, disbelief,” Mullock told the Star and Wave about his win. “The early numbers were so good, and we’ve watched this before where different areas come in at different times. I thought votes would come in that change the direction and that just never happened.”
In February, Mullock entered the fray of candidates seeking to run against Van Drew and has spent the past four months campaigning across the district, largely at diners and grocery stores.
“The last four months have really been eye-opening,” he said. “I thought I knew South Jersey really well before, and to the average person I did.”
As he worked the campaign trail, Mullock met people from all over the state and found people struggling and in desperate need of help.
“It’s not Republican or Democratic issues that people are concerned about; it’s everyday issues,” he said. “Because of all the ridiculous arguing in D.C., people aren’t being taken care of and that’s on both sides of the aisle.”
Mullock said people want to see leaders who are willing to put aside their political differences and get things accomplished.
In February, Mullock told the Star and Wave that he felt a call to serve and that change must start somewhere, given the current divisive political climate.
“Most people’s political experiences, as was mine, are mostly on TV or social media, and it is so divisive,” he said. The difference, which is encouraging to me, between TV/social media and reality on the street is stark.”
As Mullock campaigned, he spoke with many voters who raised similar issues.
“I know those people all had different registrations, but they’re talking about health care, housing, utility bills, groceries, gas,” he said. “All things people are really concerned about, and when I see that, there is so much more in common than what we hear in our polls.”
He added that people are looking for their place in politics and may not necessarily align with either major party’s standard.
“That’s shown by the number of unaffiliated voters in South Jersey and, frankly, across our country,” Mullock said. “I do think the primaries do pull people to extremes, unfortunately.”
When looking at problems, Mullock said he tries to approach each by identifying the root cause.
“I’ve done that as mayor, or at least tried to,” he said. “Where are our best efforts where one can make the biggest impact?”
Mullock was elected mayor in 2020 and ran unopposed for re-election in 2024. His current term expires at the end of 2028.
“What I kept realizing in talking to people is it really can be boiled down to people wanting dignity, they want respect and they want some compassion in their leadership,” he said. “Right now, I think our leadership is devoid of all those things. Those three things can answer such a variety of issues.”
The common themes of dignity, respect and compassion ran through almost every conversation Mullock had during the campaign.
In a June 3 Facebook post, Mullock said there is a place for everyone in his campaign, from his supporters to those who supported his primary opponents, to independent voters and Republicans.
“This campaign is about growing the tent, not shrinking it,” he wrote. “It’s about recognizing that we have far more in common than we do different. It’s about building a South Jersey where everyone has a fair shot.”
Cape May County Democratic Chairwoman Marie Blistan and Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman congratulated candidates.
“Congratulations to U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, congressional candidate Zack Mullock, county commissioner candidates David Temple and Eric Morey, Lower Township candidates Beth Blair-Slemmer and Michelle Simmons, and Dennis Township candidate John Carson,” Blistan said. “Running in any election is challenging, and we are grateful for their commitment to represent Democratic values.”
The Cape May County party had endorsed Mullock, who “won the county by a huge margin, demonstrating the power of an enthusiastic party backing of a strong candidate.”
Mullock “has demonstrated his determination to reach out to residents, listen to families’ needs and bring solutions to Washington, D.C., so that the voice of South Jersey is present, heard and addressed,” Blistan said.
“I want to congratulate Mayor Zack Mullock on his victory tonight, and I want to commend Tim Alexander, Terri Reese, and Bayly Winder on running great campaigns,” Suleiman said. “When we wake up tomorrow morning, we must leave the primary behind us and unite to defeat Jeff Van Drew in November. I look forward to working with Zack this year and will do everything I can to help him win.”
– By RACHEL SHUBIN/For the Cape May Star and Wave
