Rebecca Bennett wins New Jersey Democratic primary, faces Republican challenger Kean

Former US Navy commander Rebecca Bennett wins Democratic primary in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District.

Rebecca Bennett has emerged as the winner of a high-stakes Democratic Party primary in New Jersey, setting up a contest against Republican Tom Kean Jr for one of the most competitive seats in the upcoming midterm elections. According to projected results on Tuesday, Bennett secured about 47.2 percent of the vote, defeating three other Democratic rivals.

Bennett’s nearest competitor, Tina Shah, received 20.2 percent of the vote. The contest will now proceed to a general election in November, where Kean and Bennett will compete for a seat that has changed party hands twice within the past eight years.

Kean Jr, who is backed by President Donald Trump, has been absent from Congress due to an undisclosed illness, missing over 100 House votes since early March. Despite his absence, he ran unopposed in the Republican primary with Trump’s backing.

In a statement released hours before polls closed, Kean said he remained focused on his recovery and expected to return to in-person work within weeks. He also promised greater transparency about his health.

Bennett built her campaign around her military service and economic issues, arguing that higher grocery and gasoline prices were affecting working families. The 7th Congressional District has emerged as a key battleground, with Democrats focusing on the conflict’s economic impact.

Kean Jr is the scion of a storied New Jersey political family, with his father serving two terms as governor and later chairing the 9/11 Commission. Trump reiterated his support for Kean Jr on the eve of the primary, despite the congressman’s prolonged absence from Washington.

The contest has attracted heightened attention due to Kean’s prolonged absence from Congress. The race is considered a toss-up by independent analysts, with voters having ousted incumbents in recent midterm elections.

Source: Al Jazeera