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New Jersey Democrats pick opponent in district where US Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has been absent

Kean has been absent for months while recovering from an unspecified illness, drawing criticism from his Democratic challenger.

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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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457 stories · 96–97 · updated Oct 5, 2026

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tl;dr

Rebecca Bennett won the Democratic primary in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, setting up a November race against Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. Kean’s months-long absence while recovering from an unspecified illness has become a central issue in the contest.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Kean in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Kean’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

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Republican incumbent whose absence is a major campaign issue

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Democratic nominee challenging Tom Kean Jr. for the 7th District seat

Bennett's version of this story ↗

Democratic House candidate and primary winner in the 12th District

Democratic House candidate and primary winner in the 2nd District

Rosie Pino
R · NJ

Republican House candidate in the 9th District primary

Representative retiring from the 12th District seat

Bill Pascrell, Jr.
Former U.S. Representative (D-NJ)

Former representative who preceded Nellie Pou

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President; endorsed Kean and is connected to tax, tariff and rail-funding issues discussed in the campaign

Republican House candidate in the 9th District primary

Republican Senate candidate and nominee

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Independent senator who endorsed Adam Hamawy

Gregg Mele
R · NJ

Republican House candidate in the 12th District

Leonard Lance
Former U.S. Representative (R-NJ)

Former Republican representative defeated by Tom Malinowski in 2018

Nellie Pou
D · NJ-9

Democratic representative seeking another term in the 9th District

Tom Malinowski
Former U.S. Representative (D-NJ)

Former Democratic representative who lost the district to Kean in 2022

Cory A. Booker
D · NJ · SEN

Democratic senator and Senate candidate

ALSO MENTIONED  Jeff Van Drew, Representative seeking reelection in New Jersey’s 2nd District

Part of a bigger story

13 OUTLETS
Rebecca Bennett Wins Democratic Primary to Face Tom Kean Jr.

Outlets agree Rebecca Bennett won New Jersey’s 7th District Democratic primary and will face Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. in November. Kean’s months-long absence from Congress is also a campaign issue. Left-leaning outlets cast Kean’s absence as a political liability and present Bennett as the candidate to challenge him. Center outlets focus on the primary and competitive November race, treating the absence as a prominent campaign issue and including Kean’s account of his recovery.

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