A little over a week out from the Sussex County Democratic convention, Rebecca Bennett has earned endorsements from top local Democratic officials in Sparta, Sussex County’s largest 7th district town.
Sparta Democratic Chair Sally Larson – alongside vice-chair Bill Greenlaw and retired Superior Court Judge Lorraine Parker, a Democratic county committeemember – said that she supports Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, in the six-way Democratic primary to unseat Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield).
“Rebecca understands the priorities of Sussex County residents and will work tirelessly to bring people together and get things done,” Larson said in a statement. “I’m proud to support Rebecca because I know she will continue to provide responsible leadership and fight for a strong future for families across this district.”
One of Bennett’s top opponents, Brian Varela, has endorsements from Sparta Councilman Neill Clark, two councilmembers in nearby Stanhope, and a handful of local Democratic municipal chairs. The endorsements likely make Varela and Bennett top contenders for the Sussex Democratic endorsement; Megan O’Rourke, who as a Warren County native is the one 7th district candidate from the district’s rural northwestern corner, may put in a strong showing too.
The number of primary votes the party endorsement entails, though, may not be large. The county, which didn’t have a county line even before the rest of the state abolished it, only made up around 6% of the district’s Democratic primary vote in 2024.
Democrats in the much larger Hunterdon County portion of the district held the race’s first Democratic county convention last weekend; Bennett defeated Varela 55% to 45% in the second round of voting.
