Rebecca Bennett Wins Democratic Primary in New Jersey's 7th District, Will Face Rep. Tom Kean Jr.

Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy pilot, won the Democratic primary for New Jersey's 7th District, setting up a November race against GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr., who has been absent from Congress since March with an unspecified illness. The contest in the competitive district is seen as key to U.S. House control. Bennett is criticizing Kean's record and focusing on rising costs, while Kean states he will return to in-person work within weeks.

Bennett Democratic primary victory

• ▪In her victory speech, Rebecca Bennett criticized Rep. Tom Kean Jr. for his vote on Trump's tax legislation and his stance on a rail tunnel project
• ▪Rebecca Bennett called her opponent, Rep. Tom Kean Jr., a "coward" during her victory speech
• ▪Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, won the Democratic primary in New Jersey's 7th congressional district on June 2, 2026
• ▪Bennett's victory sets up a November general election contest against Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr.

Kean prolonged congressional absence

• ▪In a statement on June 2, 2026, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. said he is focused on recovery and will return to in-person work within weeks
• ▪Rep. Tom Kean Jr. did not make any public appearances before the primary but ran unopposed for the Republican nomination
• ▪Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has been absent from Congress due to an unspecified illness, with his last vote occurring in early March
• ▪A Democratic voter and Bennett supporter, Nina Orvyn, said she was disappointed by Rep. Tom Kean Jr.'s absence from the district and Congress

7th District electoral history

• ▪In 2022, Tom Kean Jr. defeated incumbent Democrat Tom Malinowski, who had defeated Republican Rep. Leonard Lance in 2018
• ▪The 7th District, which includes Donald Trump's Bedminster golf club, has ousted two incumbents in midterm elections over the past decade
• ▪The 7th District was redrawn after the most recent census to be more favorable to Republicans
• ▪Democrats view the 7th District seat as key to winning control of the narrowly divided U.S. House

Rising costs from tariffs

• ▪Democrats in the race are focusing on the rising costs of groceries and gasoline, which the article attributes to the Iran war and Trump's tariffs
• ▪A voter named Araz Shahinian said he voted for Rebecca Bennett due to concerns about rising prices and her "centrist views."