Rebecca Bennett to face Tom Kean Jr. in midterms after New Jersey 7th House District primary wins

Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and healthcare executive, has won the Democratic primary in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, NBC News projects, setting up a general election campaign against Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr.

Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and healthcare executive, has won the Democratic primary in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, NBC News projects, setting up a general election campaign against Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr.

Subscribe to read this story ad-free

Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.

Bennett defeated physician Tina Shah, former Small Business Administration official Michael Roth and business owner Brian Varela for the Democratic nomination. Now, she will take on Kean in a district that President Donald Trump carried by just 1 percentage point in 2024, making it one of the most tightly divided districts in the country.

Rebecca Bennett won the Democratic primary in New Jersey's battleground 7th District.Adam Gray / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesKean, who was first elected in 2022 and was unopposed in the Republican primary, won re-election by more than 5 points in 2024, running ahead of Trump.