Rep. Jeff Van Drew Engages Bridgegate-Linked Consultant for Campaign
New Jersey’s 2nd District Representative, Republican Jeff Van Drew, has enlisted the services of a controversial campaign consultant for his upcoming re-election bid. The consultant is tied to the infamous 2013 Bridgegate scandal, which nearly resulted in prison sentences for two individuals.
In his pursuit of a fifth term, Van Drew, who represents parts of Toms River and Atlantic City, has made financial ties with Stepien Strategic Partners. Campaign finance records reveal two payments of $5,000 each were rendered to the firm in late 2025.
The consulting firm is owned by Bill Stepien, a notable GOP strategist who also managed former President Donald Trump’s failed 2020 campaign. Stepien’s reputation includes the promotion of debunked election conspiracy theories, a stance shared by Van Drew as noted in a previous report.
Stepien’s history traces back to the 2013 Bridgegate incident when he was managing New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s re-election campaign. During this period, a traffic debacle ensued as two lanes of the George Washington Bridge were closed without public notice, causing significant disruptions.
The closures were initially explained as a “traffic study,” but further investigations uncovered an email from Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie’s deputy chief of staff at the time, instructing, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.” This was directed to David Wildstein, a Christie appointee to the Port Authority Board.
Prosecutors accused Kelly and Christie staffers of orchestrating the closures as a political vendetta against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, who did not endorse Christie’s re-election.
Wildstein, who resigned in December 2013, later informed Christie’s press secretary about the scheme and implied Stepien’s prior knowledge and involvement alongside Kelly. The controversy reached a peak in January 2014 when Christie dismissed Kelly and severed ties with Stepien.
In 2015, Kelly and another staffer, Bill Baroni, faced indictments and subsequent prison sentences, though the U.S. Supreme Court later overturned their convictions, ruling the charges inappropriate despite acknowledging their actions.
While Stepien managed Baroni’s 2003 New Jersey State Assembly campaign, Van Drew’s current role on the House Oversight Committee, which probes political misconduct, adds another layer of scrutiny. The Democratic challenger for Van Drew’s seat will emerge from the primary on June 2, 2026.
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