Democrat Rebecca Bennett defeats Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey House race

Democrat Rebecca Bennett has defeated Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey’s 7th District, NBC News projects, delivering an important victory for Democrats seeking control of the House. Kean’s campaign followed months of scrutiny over an unexplained congressional absence that he later attributed to hospitalization and a diagnosis of depression.

Kean, who was serving his second term, had been considered among the Republicans most at risk of losing their seats. In the campaign’s final weeks, leading super PACs withdrew spending supporting him. He is the son of New Jersey’s popular former Republican governor, Tom Kean, and belongs to a political family with roots reaching back to the American Revolution.

The congressman was away from Capitol Hill from March 5 until June 30 and missed 140 votes. Upon returning, he disclosed his hospitalization and depression diagnosis in a closely watched House floor speech. He described depression as an illness with both physical and emotional effects, saying its power could be difficult to understand without experiencing it.

During his absence, Kean’s office described his situation only as a “personal medical issue” and declined to give details or answer questions as reporters sought explanations and speculation grew. NBC News journalists and reporters from other outlets visited his New Jersey home, but nobody answered the door. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and other Republican leaders said they had communicated with Kean or his family, while declining to explain his absence.

Democrats had viewed Bennett as a strong contender from the beginning. A healthcare executive, she is also a former Navy helicopter pilot, a background she shares with Democratic New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill. Bennett criticized Kean’s support for President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” saying it imposed Medicaid cuts affecting thousands of people in the district. She also challenged his votes supporting Trump’s war with Iran.

Kean’s campaign countered by focusing on Bennett’s connections to healthcare companies. His advertisements accused those companies of refusing patient coverage and overbilling taxpayers. Johnson joined Kean on the campaign trail in New Jersey and portrayed the contest as a choice between common sense and what he called “crazy.”

Throughout Kean’s absence, his office maintained public activity that gave the impression he remained busy at work. It published social media posts almost daily, continued authoring legislation and submitted remarks to the Congressional Record that appeared to place him in the Capitol delivering speeches. One June 2 entry commemorated the 65th anniversary of the Jewish Federation of West Central New Jersey.