GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. ousted in New Jersey
Rebecca Bennett defeated the two-term Republican incumbent after his monthslong absence for depression treatment.
Democrats have defeated New Jersey's Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr. in the 7th Congressional District, according to CBS News projections. Kean, who served two terms, missed numerous votes earlier in the year while secretly receiving treatment for depression. He revealed his condition and hospitalization in late June, months after his absence became evident.
Kean expressed that there is no set timeline for overcoming depression. His lengthy absence sparked discussions about the transparency required from elected officials regarding their health. Kean was among the most vulnerable Republican candidates this election cycle. Just prior to the vote, the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC supporting House Speaker Mike Johnson, redirected resources away from Kean's race towards other crucial contests, hinting at the eventual outcome.
Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, had a fundraising advantage over Kean, as per their latest Federal Election Commission filings. Bennett raised approximately $3.9 million from July to September, whereas Kean raised less than $1 million over the same span. Throughout the entire election period, Bennett amassed nearly $8.2 million, while Kean gathered about $5.9 million.
Kean, a former state legislator, was first elected to Congress in 2022, replacing the Democratic incumbent, Rep. Tom Malinowski. This effectively flipped the district for the second time since the 2018 election. In the past few months, both House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries campaigned with their respective candidates in the district, underscoring its significance to both parties as they compete for control of the lower chamber.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
