Rebecca Bennett

Rebecca Bennett is the Democratic nominee in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, one of the most competitive House races in the country. She won a four-way Democratic primary on June 2, 2026, with roughly 47% of the vote, and will face Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr., who has missed more than 100 House votes since March 2026 due to an undisclosed medical issue. Nonpartisan race raters have shifted the district from "Toss-Up" to "Tilt Democrat" as her campaign has gained momentum.

A former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, Bennett earned an ROTC scholarship to study chemical engineering at Cornell University before spending more than 15 years in the Navy and Air National Guard as a helicopter pilot, experimental test pilot, and aircraft commander flying the MH-60 Seahawk. She graduated flight school at the top of her class and was later selected as the only MH-60S pilot in her class to attend the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. While still serving, she earned an MBA with honors from the Wharton School using the GI Bill, then moved to New Jersey with her husband, also a Navy veteran, and transitioned into a career as a healthcare business leader working to expand access to care.

Bennett has built a grassroots-funded campaign, raising more than $2.65 million without self-funding or corporate PAC money, and has drawn endorsements from New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, national veterans' and women's organizations, and several labor unions. She has framed her candidacy around bringing military discipline and healthcare experience to bear on affordability and government accountability.

Rebecca Bennett has centered her campaign on:

• Lowering costs for New Jersey families navigating inflation, housing, and everyday expenses
• Growing New Jersey's economy through bipartisan solutions that support good-paying jobs and small businesses
• Expanding access to affordable healthcare and standing up for coverage families rely on
• Keeping neighborhoods safe, drawing on her military training and experience with weapons systems
• Protecting America's national security based on her service leading military missions
• Defending constitutional rights and freedoms, consistent with the oath she took in the Navy
• Supporting veterans and military families as a longtime advocate for fellow service members
• Addressing climate change by investing in renewable energy and lowering energy costs

Bennett has argued that New Jersey needs pragmatic, mission-driven leadership in Washington rather than career politicians, pointing to her military and healthcare background as evidence she can deliver results across party lines.