WASHINGTON — New Jersey native Bill Stepien, who helped Chris Christie win two terms as governor and is trying to re-elect President Donald Trump, is now working to keep the newest House Republican in office.

Stepien joined Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s re-election campaign after the rookie Democrat switched to the GOP. Van Drew also has received help from a pro-Trump super political action committee, which is spending $250,000 on his re-election.

Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., switched parties after voting against impeaching Trump. He was one of only two Democrats to vote against both articles.

Stepien served as White House political director before leaving in December to join Trump’s re-election campaign.

He did not respond to questions about whether Trump asked him to help Van Drew. The president endorsed Van Drew over his three announced Republican opponents, while the congressman promised his “undying support” to Trump.

Another veteran New Jersey Republican political operative, Ron Filan, was named campaign manager. Filan was New Jersey state director for the Republican National Committee and political director at the New Jersey Republican State Committee. He is a former campaign manager for former Rep. Frank LoBiondo, who represented the district for 24 years until his retirement in 2019. That’s the seat Van Drew now holds.

“There is no finer Republican operative with deeper roots in South Jersey than Ron Filan,” Van Drew said. “The Washington liberals are looking to take down me and President Trump, but like I told the president in the Oval Office, we will win this seat – because while the Washington liberals are focused on scoring political points, I’m focused on creating more South Jersey jobs and making our country even stronger.”

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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