Bennett defeats Kean in New Jersey 7th District upset

Rebecca Bennett claimed the New Jersey 7th District House seat on Tuesday, defeating incumbent Representative Tom Kean Jr. The result hands Democrats a key victory in their push for a House majority. Kean, a Republican in his second term, had been viewed as one of the most vulnerable members of his party heading into the election.

The race was defined by Kean’s four-month absence from Capitol Hill. He missed work from March 5 to June 30, a period during which he failed to vote on 140 bills. Kean’s office initially described his absence as stemming from a personal medical issue without providing details. Reporters from NBC News and other outlets visited his New Jersey home during the gap, but no one answered the door.

Kean returned to the floor in early July. He disclosed that he had been hospitalized and diagnosed with depression. In a speech to colleagues, he explained that the condition is both physical and emotional. He noted that it is difficult for those without the diagnosis to understand the power of the illness.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders said they had spoken with Kean or his family during the absence. They declined to explain why he was missing from public view. While Kean was away, his staff posted daily updates on social media platforms. They submitted remarks to the Congressional Record and authored legislation to suggest he remained active.

Bennett, a healthcare executive and former Navy helicopter pilot, attacked Kean’s record. She cited his support for President Donald Trump’s tax and spending package, arguing it cut Medicaid coverage for thousands in the district. She also criticized his votes supporting the war with Iran. Kean countered by highlighting Bennett’s ties to healthcare companies that he said denied coverage and overbilled taxpayers.

Major super PACs withdrew spending to support Kean in the final weeks of the campaign. The family name carries weight in New Jersey politics, with lineage stretching back to the American Revolution. Johnson campaigned alongside Kean, telling voters to choose common sense over crazy. The final count confirmed Bennett’s win over the long-absent incumbent.

The 7th District includes parts of central New Jersey. Bennett’s victory shifts the balance of power in the House. Kean’s campaign ended with the same level of public scrutiny that began during his hospitalization. The district will now be represented by a Democrat who served in the Navy before moving into the healthcare sector.