Meet U.S. House Candidate
Rebecca Bennett
New Jersey 07
Challenger
Why This Race Matters
New Jersey is a reliably blue state in presidential elections and with a Democratic trifecta of Governor and both chambers of the state legislature. However, NJ 07 has emerged as a swing district in recent elections and is currently seen as a major battleground.
Incumbent Republican Representative Tom Kean, Jr. has been mysteriously out of public view- and off the campaign trail – with an undisclosed illness since he last voted in Congress on March 5. He has strong backing from Trump. Democrats see the possibility of flipping this seat that is held by a vulnerable two-term
Republican given the prevailing political environment and Bennett’s favorable background and experience.
Bennett readily defeated three challengers in the June Democratic primary. Kean won NJ 07 by 5.4% in 2024 and by 2.8% in ‘12. Significantly, Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill carried NJ 07 by 2% in ‘26.This race is rated Toss-up by both the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball indicating neither candidate currently has the advantage.
Hear directly from candidate Bennett in this short video:
Background + Experience
Born and raised in Texas, Bennett graduated from Cornell University on a Navy ROTC scholarship majoring in chemical engineering. She served 15 years in the Navy as a helicopter pilot, experimental test pilot, and aircraft commander.
After graduating from flight school at the top of her class, she flew the MH-Seahawk and was the number one pilot in every squadron she served in. Bennett was only the 18th woman in Navy history selected to attend the Naval Test Pilot School.
She used the G.I bill to complete her MBA at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business while continuing to serve in the Naval Air Reserve. Bennett subsequently pursued a career in healthcare working on increasing access to care, improving patients' outcomes, and decreasing costs.
Bennett and her husband have two children.
On the Issues
Bennett’s priority issues, as detailed on her campaign website, include:
- Making New Jersey more affordable
- Growing New Jersey's economy
- Lowering healthcare costs
- Keeping our neighborhoods safe
- Protecting America’s security
- Defending our freedoms
- Supporting America’s veterans and military families
- Safeguarding New Jersey’s environment
“If this group of badass American patriots can get a political outsider — a 2010 Honda Accord-driving, Navy-veteran mom — to win in one of the most competitive primaries in the country, we are going to flip this seat. Hard does not scare me. We cannot just be anti-Trump and anti-hate. We have to be for something. We have to solve the problems that we ae all facing in our everyday lives.”