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New Jersey's 7th Congressional District: Bennett Wins Democratic Primary; Incumbent Kean Absent Due to Medical Issue

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Former Navy Pilot Wins NJ-7 Democratic Primary, Setting Up Showdown with Ailing Rep. Kean Jr.

Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and healthcare executive, has won the Democratic primary in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, as projected by NBC News. She will face Republican incumbent Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in the general election.

Kean has been absent from Congress since March 5, 2025, due to an undisclosed medical issue.

Democratic Primary

Bennett defeated physician Tina Shah, former Small Business Administration official Michael Roth, and business owner Brian Varela in the June 2, 2025, primary.

During the race, Bennett faced criticism from Shah for having previously been registered as a Republican. Bennett’s campaign stated she grew up in a Republican family but registered as a Democrat after Donald Trump became the GOP nominee in 2016.

A super PAC, Real Change PAC, spent over $600,000 on the race, running advertisements portraying Bennett as soft on Immigration and Customs Enforcement compared to Shah and Varela. The group has not disclosed its donors, and some Democrats speculated it might be a Republican-run organization.

"I will work to motivate the Democratic base and appeal to independent voters and center-right Republicans." — Rebecca Bennett

Incumbent's Absence

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has not cast a vote in Congress or been seen in public since March 5, 2025.

His office has stated he is dealing with a "personal medical issue" or "personal health matter" and plans to return soon. Kean is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

  • House Speaker Mike Johnson stated he spoke with Kean and expected him to return as soon as possible.
  • Former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., the congressman's father, said his son is recovering from a "serious but temporary illness" and expects him to return soon.
  • In late May, Kean told the New Jersey Globe that doctors are confident he is on the road to full recovery and that he expects to return "in the next couple of weeks."
  • On June 2, 2025, Kean stated he will return to the Capitol "within a matter of weeks" and will be "completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition."

Kean's campaign consultant Harrison Neely stated the absence is due to a medical emergency and that Kean will be transparent about the issue. Kean's chief of staff Dan Scharfenberger said the congressman's team continues to serve the people of New Jersey without interruption. Kean's campaign and official social media accounts have continued posting as usual.

Reactions to the Absence

  • House Republicans: Some GOP colleagues expressed concern over Kean's health and frustration with the lack of communication. State Senate Minority Leader Jon Bramnick expressed concern, noting Kean's history of diligent attendance.
  • Democratic Candidates: During the primary, Democratic candidates criticized Kean for not communicating with constituents.
  • Voters: Constituents in the 7th District expressed mixed views. Somerville resident Bobby Anderson called the absence "pretty shocking and fairly alarming to me as a voter." Another constituent, Cindy Capodice, said she did not believe Kean was required to share details of his health: "I think there’s a good amount of privacy that people are allowed to have, whether they’re in office or not."

District and General Election

The 7th Congressional District is considered a top Democratic pickup opportunity in the 2026 midterm elections. President Donald Trump carried the district by 1 percentage point in the 2024 election. Kean was first elected in 2022 and won re-election by over 5 points in 2024, running ahead of Trump.

Campaign Statements

  • Rebecca Bennett stated that her military and healthcare background "uniquely positioned me to flip this seat." She said she would work to motivate the Democratic base and appeal to independent voters and center-right Republicans.
  • National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole said, "Tom Kean Jr.’s record speaks for itself: He’s lowered taxes, cut costs, and made New Jersey’s communities safer," and called Bennett "a tax-and-spend liberal."
  • The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee congratulated Bennett and criticized Kean for "years of broken promises."

Legal Context

Under New Jersey law, if Kean were to withdraw after the primary, the vacancy would be filled by the state's GOP county committee leaders. Kean has stated he intends to run for reelection.