Editor’s note: The Sentinel contacted all five Democratic candidates running in the July 2 primary for the chance to challenge incumbent Republican Jeff Van Drew for the Second Congressional District seat. All but Will Cunningham of Vineland responded by deadline.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY – The COVID-19 pandemic has forced candidates into alternative campaign strategies. Say goodbye to public rallies and knocking on doors and hello to telephone calls and social media posts.
Democrats Robert Turkavage of Brigantine and Dr. John Francis of West Cape May had been wearing through their shoe leather before spring arrived, but the restrictions put in place across New Jersey because of the unique coronavirus literally stopped them in their tracks as they campaign to replace Republican Jeff Van Drew in the Second Congressional District.
“From the beginning of February until the end of the first week of March, I employed what is commonly referred to as ‘retail campaigning’ in my campaign,” Turkavage said. “Every day from dawn to dusk, I knocked on doors of voters in CD-2, including many municipalities in Cape May County, to introduce myself to voters and to ask for their support. Some individuals contacted made unsolicited offers to donate to my campaign … which I politely refused. Instead, I asked for their vote.
“COVID-19,” he said, “effectively put an end to my retail campaigning, and caused me to refocus my efforts in other less expensive ways.”
Turkavage said he has received phone calls and emails from potential voters, including from those where he had left campaign literature as their homes.
“A few days ago, I received a telephone call from a woman in Cape May Court House who told me that she reviewed my website and that of (Brigid Callahan) Harrison and (Amy) Kennedy, and that I was clearly the most experienced person in the race,” Turkavage said.
For his part, Francis cited a Facebook post he received: “An honest, educated, and truly environmentally devoted individual. I would be honored to vote for John Francis! Hopefully there will be more like him running all across the country this time. I’m so over the deceitful election of 2018 in our district. Bring it on John!”
“The central thrust of the campaign was walking and knocking on doors throughout the district,” Francis said. “Social distancing ended knocking on doors. For a while, I kept walking, waving at passing motorists, but stopped after reaching Mays Landing in deference to the governor’s stay-at-home message. How that has helped or hurt remains to be seen. I look at every day as an opportunity to make a difference.”
Brigid Callahan Harrison of Longport said because of her professional and community work over the years, she and her campaign have been able to network effectively.
“While we certainly we’re not expecting something as significant as a pandemic, our infrastructure allows us to be nimble. We are a grassroots campaign,” Callahan Harrison said. “We do not have a large staff.”
She said as a professor she is used to writing policy statements without help from consultants and she has been posting a response to President Trump’s daily briefings.
“We also did a lot of the important work early, way before others did – which allowed us to build strong, broad union support – and this has been extremely helpful in keeping connected,” she said. “We continue to work remotely with Sen. Booker’s campaign and the campaigns of all of the county candidates we are running with throughout the district. In addition, I have been attending local events, serving on community boards, and building impactful relationship in south Jersey my whole life.
“So while the pandemic has kept us in all our homes,” she said, “not much has really changed. I have been spending a great deal of my time just keeping people engaged and involved in our efforts and I am not taking anything for granted.”
Callahan Harrison said one thing that has been important to her is the reaction she received when people learned her husband was hospitalized with COVID-19.
“The reaction I received when news broke about my husband Paul and COVID was so extremely moving to me,” she said. “I am so very grateful for the incredible support I received from old friends and new supporters throughout the district. I heard from people I haven’t talked to since elementary school, people I worked with in the casinos in the 1990s. So many people went to great lengths to reach out to me, to check in on me and my kids, and to ask about Paul. Words simply cannot describe how much the concern from all areas of the district has meant to me.”
Amy Kennedy of Brigantine said her campaign is no exception to how the “pandemic has completely shifted how our society functions.”
“We’re still talking to voters,” Kennedy said, “but not in the traditional ways of meet and greets and in person events. We are using this time to ensure our community has the resources they need. We are calling people across the district and making sure they’re OK and have supplies and food.”
Kennedy added, “We are hosting virtual events that feature local and national experts that can provide updates and resources during the pandemic. We’re doing what we can to make sure the community is connected and informed during this time.”
Kennedy said her campaign has received positive feedback in the formal of emails, phone calls and Facebook posts saying they appreciate the work they are doing to serve the community, providing resources and information.
“We also have heard from many people who feel frustrated that the federal government isn’t doing more to make sure stimulus is reaching the people here who need it and to ensure people can get tested quickly,” Kennedy said.
“The most surprising thing and the most uplifting and hopeful thing about campaigning during the pandemic is the willingness and commitment of our volunteers and staff to support not only the campaign, but our community,” Kennedy said. “They continue to show up (metaphorically) and dedicate their time despite the circumstances. And despite being apart, we have truly all come together to support one another, and support south Jersey.”