Democrat Rebecca Bennett will face New Jersey Rep. Thomas H. Kean Jr. this fall in a closely watched battleground race that could help determine which party wins control of the House.
Bennett won the Democratic primary for the 7th District on Tuesday, securing 47.8 percent of the vote when The Associated Press called the race at 8:57 p.m. Eastern time, nearly an hour after polls closed. She led physician Tina Shah, who had 20.4 percent; businessman Brian Varela, who had 16.6 percent; and Michael Roth, who was the interim leader of the Small Business Administration during the Biden administration, who had 15.2 percent.
The 7th District was already considered a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats before Kean’s extended absence from Capitol Hill this spring. The two-term Republican last voted in early March and has not been seen in public in recent months as he receives treatment for an undisclosed medical issue.
In a statement Tuesday, Kean said he would “transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks.”
“At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition,” he said. “I understand the need for transparency on this matter and I look forward to sharing my experience with the public.”
