Democrat Rebecca Bennett will run against Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in the upcoming general election in November. Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, secured the Democratic nomination in a primary for a New Jersey House seat, as reported by The Associated Press. Kean has not made a public appearance since early March due to an undisclosed health issue and ran unopposed for the GOP nomination.
Bennett's victory positions her to challenge Kean, who is seeking re-election in a district deemed critical for House Republicans. The Cook Political Report has classified the race as a "toss-up." Kean has faced scrutiny over his absence from Congress, which has raised concerns among House GOP leadership. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that Kean has a medical issue and intends to be transparent about it when he returns to work, which he anticipates will be in a few weeks.
Kean has missed all 104 of the most recent roll call votes, with his last vote recorded on March 5. Despite his absence, his office has continued to engage on social media and he has introduced legislation. Bennett's primary win follows a competitive race against other Democratic candidates, including two former Biden administration officials. Kean previously defeated Democratic challenger Sue Altman by approximately 5 points in the last election.
