New Jersey 7th District
Thomas Kean Jr. (R) holds this seat and is running again. 3 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Thomas Kean Jr.
Republican · holds this seat today
ALiberty Score AOn the liberty side in 93 of 93 votes and bills.
Raised $6,128,373 since January 2025: 46% from people, 30% transfers and other income, 24% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Rebecca Bennett
Democrat · former Navy pilot and healthcare executive
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Bennett, and what Bennett has said and done settles only 3 of my principles. I went through it on October 30. A grade needs 4.
Raised $8,757,003 since January 2025: 88% from people, 6% transfers and other income, 6% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Voting in New Jersey: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Rebecca Bennett, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Bennett, so the grade above comes from this list: what Bennett has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
Criticised a House vote to continue the Iran war without naming a bill or policy.
“Last night, he voted for the third time to continue Trump’s war in Iran.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No bill or policy is named, so by the site precedent it is unclear.
-
Told the Record and NorthJersey.com editorial board the United States should bring allies to the table and negotiate a lasting peace in the region.
“we need to bring our allies to the table and we need to make sure that we're negotiating a long-term peace and stability in the region that includes reopening the Strait and making sure that we have freedom of navigation of the seas.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No named deal, sanctions or war powers step, so the words do not settle the measure.
-
Said Israel should be supported as an ally across party lines.
“I think we should be supporting Israel as an ally, regardless of political party.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating Israel as an ally that the US should support follows the with rule.
-
In the May 2026 Democratic primary debate, was pressed on new conditions on Israel and said she would focus on whether Israel is following U.S. law.
“I'm going to be focused on making sure that Israel is following U.S. law, and then we'll go from there.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
She did not say aid would be conditioned or cut, so the words do not settle the measure.
-
Listed countering China as the top strategic threat, without naming Taiwan or NATO.
“Counter China as the number one strategic threat to global democracy and the United States’ standing over the next 50 years.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Taiwan, Ukraine and NATO are not named, so it does not settle the measure.
-
Pledged to fully restore the SALT deduction, a named federal tax cut.
“Fully restore the SALT deduction so that New Jersey taxpayers are no longer double taxed on their hard-earned income.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named tax cut follows the with rule on free markets.
-
Pledged to advance the Equality Act on LGBTQ+ rights.
“Fight to protect LGBTQ+ rights by advancing the Equality Act, ensuring that no one is discriminated against because of who they are or who they love.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Sport, prisons and DEI mandates are not named, so it does not settle the measure.
-
Set a goal that servicemembers have the equipment and capabilities they need.
“to ensure our servicemembers have the equipment and capabilities they need to protect our nation”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Equipping the armed forces follows the with rule on the military.
-
Told the editorial board that the ICE department needs to be held accountable like any other federal law enforcement agency.
“this ICE department is working absolutely outside of the law of the land and needs to be held accountable like any other federal law enforcement agency.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Accountability for ICE without abolishing or funding it does not settle the measure.
-
Said she does not want to abolish ICE and supports strong borders; she wants ICE reformed.
“I don’t want to abolish ICE,”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Not wanting to abolish ICE is not on the with side (securing the border, enforcing the law, deportations); she also wants ICE reformed and opposes a detention site. Set unclear in the merge-run spot check, 22 Oct.
Also on the ballot
Seamus O'Toole (Independent).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
Say it where other readers can answer you. Opinions, videos and corrections about this race are all in one place.
Discussion
New Jersey 7th District
Opinions, videos, corrections and bug reports about this race, all in one place. What readers post is their words, not mine. My answers carry the Host tag.
Leave out anything private about anyone. The rules, what your account keeps, and what readers have changed so far
Know this race better than I do?
Argue it with the hosts on a call. The community meets every day, and members help decide what goes on these pages.