Polling Average
40%30%20%10%0%
28%
16.2%
12.4%
10.6%
5%
Democrat
Rebecca Bennett
NJ-07 Democratic nominee?
$25.6K
JUN 9, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Navy helicopter pilot (veteran)
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
GenderFemale
LocationNew Jersey
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BackgroundU.S. Navy helicopter pilot (veteran)
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School — M.B.A. (with honors)
Notable personal detailsRebecca Bennett is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District and won the Democratic primary on June 2, 2026. She is a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and aircraft commander and has also served as an officer in the Air National Guard. Bennett has worked in the private sector as a healthcare business leader and earned an M.B.A., with honors, from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govrebeccabennettforcongress.comapnews.comcbsnews.comwashingtonpost.comen.wikipedia.orgvotevets.orgdemocrats.orgcookpolitical.comwikizero.orgdemocratsworkforamerica.orgballot.watchnewjerseyglobe.cominquirer.comdocquery.fec.govunioncountyvotes.comcontent.swingleft.orginsidernj.comcornellsun.comrewirenewsgroup.comleadershipnowpac.orgsignalhire.comnjtoday.newswhartonnjclub.comnpiprofile.comjstreetpac.orgleadershipnowproject.orgnrcc.orgvillagegreennj.comgoogle.comballotready.orgprogressives.house.govkean.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax relief for New Jersey residents (including fully restoring the SALT deduction) and increased public investment in jobs training, clean energy, and healthcare funding rather than broad tax cuts. Emphasizes restoring Medicaid and Medicare funding reduced by Republican legislation and using federal investment to lower costs for families and grow high-tech and clean-energy sectors.
Healthcare
Supports protecting people with pre-existing conditions, opposing cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, and increasing access to affordable care while lowering healthcare costs.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate supports working with lawmakers on bipartisan solutions to immigration reform but provides no detailed policy proposals on border enforcement, asylum, or pathways to legal status. Public materials emphasize finding commonsense, bipartisan approaches rather than specific positions on enforcement or regularization.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports restoring a woman’s right to choose at the federal level and protecting New Jersey women’s reproductive rights and health from infringement; describes herself as pro-choice and opposes parental notification laws for minors.
Climate & Energy
Supports investing in renewable and domestic clean energy, maintaining environmental regulations, incentivizing solar and electric vehicles, upgrading the power grid, and funding climate-resilient infrastructure to lower costs and protect New Jersey from extreme weather.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports commonsense gun safety reforms including removing military-style “weapons of war” from civilian streets, measures to keep firearms out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them, restoring federal gun-violence research, and restrictions like reimplementing the tax on silencers. Also expresses support for resourcing law enforcement while building community trust.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Rebecca Bennett has won the Democratic nomination in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District and will face Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in the general election. The race is being treated as a toss-up and a key battleground for control of the House. Recent coverage has focused on Bennett’s challenge to Kean as he returns from a long medical absence and on Democrats’ efforts to capitalize on his missed votes and time away from Congress.
fec.gov+32
Articles
FNFox News2 months ago
Missing GOP congressman vows he's 'more energized than ever' to return to Washington
Neutral
NYNew York Post2 months ago
Rebecca Bennett wins Democratic primary for NJ House district held by absent Tom Kean
Positive
NNJ.com2 months ago
Navy helicopter pilot and mom (no, not Gov. Sherrill) wins Dem nomination to take on Tom Kean Jr.
Positive
NNNBC News2 months ago
Democrat Rebecca Bennett will take on GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr., who has been absent from Congress
Positive
Polls
NJ-07 Democratic nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
NJ-07 Democratic nominee?
Endorsers of Rebecca Bennett for NJ-07 Democratic nominee?
New Jersey AFL-CIO
Labor organization
New Jersey AFL-CIO endorsed Rebecca Bennett for Congress in New Jersey's 7th district.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Political organization
Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsed Rebecca Bennett for Congress.
EMILYs List
Public endorsement
EMILYs List endorsed Rebecca Bennett for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.
New Jersey Education Association
Advocacy group
New Jersey Education Association endorsed Rebecca Bennett for Congress.
314 Action Fund
Political organization
314 Action Fund endorsed Rebecca Bennett for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.
New Democrat Action Fund
Political organization
New Democrat Action Fund endorsed Rebecca Bennett in the 7th congressional district race.
Elect Democratic Women
Public figure
Elect Democratic Women endorsed Rebecca Bennett for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.
Nick Scutari and Union County Democrats
Labor organization
Nick Scutari and Union County Democrats endorsed Rebecca Bennett.
Megan O’Rourke
Public endorsement
Megan O’Rourke endorsed Rebecca Bennett after exiting the race.
Communications Workers of America District 1
Public endorsement
Communications Workers of America District 1 endorsed Rebecca Bennett for Congress.
Morris County Democratic Committee
Political organization
Morris County Democratic Committee endorsed Rebecca Bennett in the CD-7 race.
Door-to-Door Democracy
Public endorsement
Door-to-Door Democracy endorsed Rebecca Bennett for Congress in New Jersey's 7th district.
College Democrats of New Jersey
Public endorsement
College Democrats of New Jersey endorsed Rebecca Bennett for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.
Jordan Glatt
Public figure
Jordan Glatt endorsed Rebecca Bennett in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District race.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$4.3M
$3.2M
$2.1M
$1.1M
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$4.3M
$1.4M
$2.8M
$157.0K
Source: FEC