More on VanDrew

Van Drew is one of two Democrats who voted against opening the impeachment inquiry into Trump and has remained against the effort, even as the House prepares to vote to impeach the president next week. Van Drew's decision [to switch parties] comes after a meeting with Trump on Friday.

[...]

As of Saturday afternoon, it was still unclear if Van Drew would make the announcement before the House votes on impeachment, which is expected Wednesday.

  Politico

My guess would be that he'd vote first and then switch so that the Republicans add him to the number of Democrats voting against impeachment. But, who knows? The fact that he's already signaled the switch may preclude him from voting as a Democrat. I wonder what Devil's bargain he made with Trump. Do you suppose he has some gambling or mob connections - or debts?

Democratic leadership had already been expecting a handful of their members to vote against impeachment, including Van Drew, next week.

[...]

Republicans were excitedly touting the news on Saturday, describing it as a huge blow to Democrats' effort to impeach the president

Well, that's making a mountain out of a molehill. A huge blow? I think not. But work with what you have.

Rumors had swirled around Capitol Hill this week that Van Drew was considering leaving the Democratic Party but he strongly denied those claims on multiple occasions.

Democrats don't need a liar on their team. Or a fickle member. He obviously wasn't suiting his constituents.

The stunning move comes amid new polling commissioned by Van Drew's campaign that shows his approval ratings are under water with Democratic voters in his district. Just 24 percent of Democratic primary voters said Van Drew deserves to be reelected to Congress, and only 28 percent said he deserves to be the Democratic nominee in next year’s election.

[...]

It also found 71 percent of voters would be less likely to support Van Drew in his reelection if he voted against impeachment.

[...]

Local Democrats were enraged by the news. Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman, whose county is entirely within the 2 nd Congressional District, called Van Drew a “coward” who “took the easy way out.”

“It’s one thing to vote against impeachment, but instead of owning up to his constituents and explaining to them why he’s doing what he’s doing, he’s now decided to just completely abandon the Democratic Party and switch,” Suleiman said. “It’s just unconscionable.”

I don't think VanDrew was a Democrat in the first place. And, good riddance. I still wonder if there are any laws in New Jersey to allow the voters who elected him to recall him.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

UPDATE:

That's not really a surprise, and I'm sure he'll find many willing replacements, but still.