A Democratic former Navy pilot wins primary to try unseating Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey's most contested House race

Democrat Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, will challenge Republican Tom Kean Jr. in November in the Garden State’s most hotly-contested congressional race.

Bennett, 39, prevailed in a four-way primary in the 7th Congressional District after running on a more moderate message than her three rivals: Brian Varela, a businessperson; Tina Shah, a medical doctor; and Michael Roth, a former Biden administration official.

Now, Bennett will face Kean, a two-term Republican whose nearly three-month absence from Congress due to an undisclosed medical issue has garnered national headlines and even more attention to the already-competitive district. Kean, who ran unopposed, said in a statement Tuesday that he’s “more energized than ever to keep fighting for the people of New Jersey’s 7th District,” but offered no new details and seemed to push back his timeline for a return to Congress.

Ahead of the primary, Kean received the endorsement of President Donald Trump, who wrote Monday night on Truth Social that “Tom is working tirelessly” to support the president’s agenda.