Millville, NJ — Today, Bayly Winder, a lifelong public servant and fourth-generation New Jerseyan, announced his campaign for Congress in New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District, launching a challenge to incumbent Jeff Van Drew. Running as a Democrat, Winder is pledging to bring integrity, experience, and a results-driven agenda to South Jersey—at a time when politics too often gets in the way of progress. 

“South Jersey families work hard—and they deserve someone in Congress who works just as hard for them,” said Winder. “I’ve served under both Democratic and Republican presidents. I’ve advised the State Department, worked with the FBI on national security, and helped advance key programs at USAID. I know what service looks like—and it’s not Jeff Van Drew selling South Jersey families out for political convenience.” 

A proud product of New Jersey public schools and a childhood shaped by summers on the Shore and Little League fields, Winder brings a deep understanding of the region’s values and challenges. He is running to lower costs for working families, protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and bring real investment to South Jersey’s economy and infrastructure. 

Bayly Winder has committed his career to national security, serving under both Presidents Obama and Trump at the U.S. State Department, where he earned the Meritorious Honor Award for his work on foreign policy. He has advised the FBI on technology and cybersecurity and returned to public service at USAID to lead critical U.S. development and diplomacy efforts around the world. 

His campaign launch comes just weeks after Van Drew cast the deciding vote for a Republican spending bill that would slash Medicaid—despite claiming he would never support such cuts.

“This race is about who you can trust when it matters most,” said Winder. “Jeff Van Drew said he’d protect Medicaid for South Jersey families. Then, he cast the deciding vote to gut it – all so that he could fund more tax cuts for billionaires. We can’t afford more broken promises from a career politician who says one thing in Jersey, but then turns around and votes another way in Washington..” 

Recent polling shows opportunity for a strong Democratic challenge in NJ-02. According to a new poll from Public Policy Polling commissioned by the Voter Protection Project, more voters say it’s time for someone new than say they’d reelect Jeff Van Drew—42% to 39%. That gap grows to 47% to 40% when voters learn that Van Drew voted to gut Medicaid.