Key facts
- Rebecca Bennett won the Democratic primary for New Jersey's seventh congressional district.
- Thomas Kean, the incumbent Republican, ran unopposed in his primary.
- Kean has been absent from Congress since early March due to an undisclosed medical condition.
- Bennett, a healthcare executive and former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, won with 48% of the vote.
- The contest between Bennett and Kean is rated as a toss-up by independent analysts.
Democrat Rebecca Bennett has won the primary election for New Jersey's seventh congressional district, positioning her to challenge Republican incumbent Thomas Kean in the November general election. Bennett, a healthcare executive and former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, secured a decisive victory with 48% of the vote, leading her closest rival, Tina Shah, by 28 points.
Thomas Kean, who has been absent from Congress since early March due to an undisclosed medical issue, ran unopposed in the Republican primary. He recently stated he would transition from virtual to in-person work within weeks, following an earlier indication he would return in "a couple of weeks."
The seventh congressional district is considered a key swing district, having changed party hands twice in the past eight years and currently rated as a toss-up by independent analysts. The district spans suburbs and small towns from Staten Island to the Pennsylvania border. Kean, 57, comes from a prominent New Jersey political family, with ancestors including a former governor and a former congressman.