Democrats in a pivotal New Jersey battleground district are set to choose their U.S. House nominee on Tuesday, aiming to challenge Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr. The race has gained significant attention due to Kean’s months-long absence from Congress, attributed to an unspecified medical issue.
New Jersey’s 7th District, encompassing suburban communities and agricultural land – and notably, one of the president’s golf clubs – is hosting the state’s most high-profile primary. Four Democrats are vying for the chance to unseat Kean, whose aides confirm he intends to seek a third term despite his prolonged absence.
Kean’s last recorded vote was in early March, and his continued absence has intensified the focus on this seat. Democrats view it as crucial for gaining control of the narrowly divided House, while Republicans recognize its importance for their defense.
The district has a history of volatility, with voters ousting two incumbents in midterm elections over the past decade.
The Democratic field includes Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot whose background draws parallels to Governor Mikie Sherrill; Michael Roth, a former Small Business Administration official; Tina Shah, an intensive care unit doctor; and Brian Varela, a businessman backed by progressive groups.
The campaign has been fiercely contested, with each candidate raising substantial funds, often exceeding seven figures. They have navigated a delicate balance between appealing to the party’s core supporters and attracting more independent general election voters.
Bennett’s campaign has faced scrutiny from a political action committee that has spent approximately $650,000 in the primary, launching attacks from the left. Bennett has suggested the group, whose donors remain undisclosed, is Republican-backed, aiming to undermine her candidacy out of concern for her general election prospects.
Democrats are focusing their campaign on the rising costs of groceries and gasoline, which they attribute to the Iran war and the president’s sweeping tariffs. They are directing blame at Republicans, specifically at Kean, arguing he is ill-suited for the district and citing his support for the president’s signature tax-cut legislation.
Kean addressed his absence last month on X, stating he is dealing with a “personal medical issue” and expects to return soon. However, he provided no further details, and his staff and political aides have declined to elaborate.
The district was redrawn after the most recent census to be more favorable to Republicans, but its electoral history remains unpredictable. Kean defeated incumbent Democrat Tom Malinowski in 2022, who had previously unseated Republican Rep. Leonard Lance in 2018.
Beyond this key House contest, a Republican Senate primary is also being closely watched on Tuesday. The party has struggled in New Jersey since the president-backed candidate for governor lost by double digits last year.
Voters face a four-way race between attorney Justin Murphy, surgeon Robert Lebovics, Army veteran Richard Tabor, and former TV reporter Alex Zdan. The winner will challenge Democratic Senator Cory Booker, who is seeking a full third term.
Several other House seats could see noteworthy campaigns in the fall. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who switched to the Republican Party during the president’s first term after initially being elected as a Democrat, is seeking a fifth term in southern New Jersey’s 2nd District.
In the heavily Democratic 12th District, Rep. Bonnie Watson is retiring, leading to a crowded primary field vying to succeed her. Dr. Adam Hamawy, a surgeon and Army veteran, has gained prominence with endorsements from independent Senator Bernie Sanders and other progressives.
Some opponents recently criticized him for a past connection to Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, a blind Egyptian cleric convicted in 1995 of conspiring to blow up the United Nations and other New York-area landmarks.
Hamawy was a defense witness in the sheik’s trial but was not accused of wrongdoing, and he has condemned violence and distanced himself from the sheik during his campaign. Abdel-Rahman died in federal prison in 2017.
Republicans are also selecting their nominee in northern New Jersey’s 9th District, choosing between attorney Tiffany Burress and Clifton City Councilwoman Rosie Pino, to challenge first-term Democratic Rep. Nellie Pou. Pou’s margin of victory in 2024 was narrower than her long-serving predecessor, Rep. Bill Pascrell, and coincided with the president winning a county within the district.
More details here...
