Key facts
- Rebecca Bennett won the Democratic primary for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.
- Incumbent Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has missed 99 House votes since March 5 due to an undisclosed medical issue.
- Kean has been absent from public view for nearly three months.
- Bennett is a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and Air National Guard officer.
- New Jersey's 7th District is rated a 'tossup'.
Democratic voters in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District have selected former Navy pilot Rebecca Bennett to challenge incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in the upcoming election. Kean has been absent from Congress for nearly three months, missing 99 House votes since March 5 due to an unspecified medical illness. This absence has fueled speculation and frustration, particularly as the district is considered a competitive swing seat. Bennett, who served 15 years as a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and Air National Guard officer, aims to unseat Kean by highlighting his lack of presence and engagement with constituents. She led her four primary opponents in fundraising, raising over $2.6 million from more than 13,000 donors. Bennett plans to appeal to independent and center-right voters, with affordability as a key policy priority. President Donald Trump has endorsed Kean, who flipped the seat in 2022 by three points, while Trump himself won the district by only one point in 2024. The Cook Political Report rates the race as a 'tossup'. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated he knows the reason for Rep. Kean Jr.'s absence but will defer to the congressman to disclose it. Andrew Miller, a Democrat, has withdrawn from the race, leaving Bennett as the sole Democratic challenger.