NEW JERSEY — Rebecca Bennett won the Democratic primary in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District on June 4, 2024. She will face Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in the November general election for the seat representing a district rated as a 'toss-up' by The Cook Political Report.
Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot with more than 15 years of service as an experimental test pilot, aircraft commander, and member of the Air National Guard, made the rising cost of living her central campaign issue. She pledged to work to undo Trump’s tax cuts to address affordability concerns and raised more than $2.6 million for her primary campaign, outpacing all her Democratic competitors. Several polls had shown her with double-digit leads over her rivals, making her the heavy favorite heading into election day.
“I’ve fought for and defended this country before, and I’m ready to do it again,” Bennett said.
She also offered a measured response to Kean’s recent absence from Congress, where he has not cast a vote since March 5. Kean, who was running unopposed in the GOP primary, claimed in a late April social media post that he was dealing with a 'personal medical issue' and later told the New Jersey Globe he would return to Congress and campaigning 'in the next couple of weeks.'
“My doctors are confident that I’m on the road to a full recovery. I understand the need for public transparency, and I appreciate the support of my constituents. I anticipate that in the next couple of weeks, I’ll return to voting and to the campaign trail,” Kean said.
Before entering politics, Bennett graduated from Cornell and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. The 7th District includes Trump’s Bedminster country club and backed Donald Trump over Kamala Harris by two points in the 2024 presidential election, though it supported Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill over Republican Jack Ciattarelli by the same margin in the most recent gubernatorial race.