Democrat Rebecca Bennett is projected to win New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, unseating Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr. The victory signals a key gain for House Democrats in the battle for congressional control.
Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, challenged Kean, who was seeking his third term representing the suburban and exurban district that includes President Trump's Bedminster golf course. Election forecasts, including Fox News Power Rankings, had indicated a challenging race for Kean.
Kean's absence from Congress for nearly four months earlier in the year due to treatment for depression became a point of discussion. He later explained his absence on the House floor, stating that "there is no timeline for healing. There is no timeline for recovery. Only the work of getting better one day at a time." He faced criticism for not disclosing the specifics of his health issue until his return.
During the campaign's first and only debate, Kean defended Trump's economic policies and actions regarding Iran, while Bennett criticized the president's tariffs and linked the conflict in the Middle East to high gas prices impacting Americans. Kean, in an August interview with Fox News Digital, described himself as an "effective legislator" in contrast to Bennett, whom he characterized as a "very abject partisan."
Reports indicated that Republican campaign groups, including the Congressional Leadership Fund and MAGA Inc., had withdrawn financial support from the district to allocate resources to other races, with some House Republicans expressing pessimism about retaining their majority. Despite this, Kean's campaign had stated they had sufficient funds.