Rebecca Bennett will face GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in November after Bennett won the Democratic nod in the 7th Congressional District on Tuesday, the Associated Press projects.
Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, prevailed over three primary opponents, Michael Roth, Tina Shah, and Brian Varela.
Her victory sets up a competitive campaign for a seat Democrats held for two terms until Kean ousted former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D) in 2022 in a tight race that took roughly a week to call.
The November race is expected to be close amid Democratic energy spurred by the Trump administration’s unpopular Iran war and the nation’s tariff and conflict-spurred economic downturn.
It is likely to be complicated by Kean’s monthslong absence from Congress. The congressman has not been seen in public since he began missing votes in early March due to what his campaign said was an undisclosed illness.
Kean, who was unopposed in the GOP primary, held no victory celebrations Tuesday.
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