New Jersey — 7th District

D Democratic Rebecca Bennett

Supports lowering costs and restoring SALT

Bennett focuses on easing financial pressure on New Jersey families by addressing inflation, housing costs, and energy bills. She advocates cutting red tape to expand housing construction, fully restoring the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, passing paid family leave, and funding elder care.

• Cut red tape to increase housing supply and lower buyer and renter costs.
• Fully restore the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction to stop double taxation.
• Invest in clean, reliable domestic energy sources to lower utility bills.
• Pass federal paid family leave and fully fund elder care services.

“Fully restore the SALT deduction so that New Jersey taxpayers are no longer double taxed on their hard-earned income.”

“I fully understand the challenges of balancing work & family while navigating inflation and the rising cost of living.”

R Republican Thomas Kean Jr.

Supports SALT restoration and tax relief

Kean highlights lowering living costs and providing tax relief to suburban families as a top priority. As a member of the bipartisan SALT Caucus, he advocates fully restoring the State and Local Tax deduction and cutting regulations for small businesses.

• Co-leads efforts in the bipartisan SALT Caucus to fully restore the State and Local Tax deduction.
• Supports reducing regulatory burdens and red tape for small businesses.
• Signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge opposing tax increases.
• Voted for major federal budget reconciliation legislation (H.R. 1 in 2025).

“As a member of the bipartisan SALT Caucus, I led the fight to fully restore the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction for every middle class family, providing real tax relief for homeowners throughout the district who face the burden of living in a high-tax state.”

D Democratic Rebecca Bennett

Supports expanding access and protecting Medicaid

Drawing on her background as a healthcare executive, Bennett advocates protecting pre-existing condition protections and reversing Medicaid and Medicare cuts. She supports increasing youth mental health funding, streamlining interstate licensing, and shifting insurance incentives toward patient health outcomes.

• Protect coverage for pre-existing conditions and restore Medicaid/Medicare spending cuts.
• Significantly expand mental health resources for children and young adults.
• Oppose cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) lifesaving research grants.
• Streamline cross-state licensing for healthcare workers and reward health outcome metrics.

“We have to expand access and bring down costs for patients, and I’m excited to bring my experience in healthcare to Congress.”

“Restore Tom Kean Jr. and MAGA Republicans’ cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, that will reduce the number of Americans with health insurance and drive up overall healthcare costs.”

R Republican Thomas Kean Jr.

Supports healthcare affordability and prescription savings

Kean emphasizes his legislative record in New Jersey working on prescription drug savings, maternal healthcare, and mental health access. In Congress, he serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee focusing on expanding healthcare quality.

• Served on the NJ Senate Health and Commerce committees focused on drug costs and maternal care.
• Serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to expand access to high-quality healthcare.

“I am focused on lowering costs for families, improving access to high-quality healthcare, supporting a robust and reliable infrastructure, boosting innovation at home, and helping students reach their top potential.”

D Democratic Rebecca Bennett

Supports congressional stock ban and executive oversight

Bennett calls for restoring public trust by banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks, reforming campaign finance, and protecting voting rights. She also promises to hold the executive branch accountable for judicial order violations and constitutional spending limits.

• Pass a statutory ban on Members of Congress trading individual stocks.
• Hold the executive branch accountable to constitutional checks and judicial orders.
• Enact campaign finance reform to limit billionaire political spending.
• Advance federal legislation protecting and facilitating voter registration.

“Pass a ban on Members of Congress trading stocks, to ensure that our elected representatives serve the public interest, not their own bottom line.”

R Republican Thomas Kean Jr.

Supports bipartisan problem-solving and constituent services

Kean highlights his reputation as an independent, consensus-driven legislator who works across party lines in the Problem Solvers Caucus. He emphasizes returning tens of millions directly to constituents while voting for voter eligibility verification laws.

• Active member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.
• Returned $62 million to district residents through constituent casework.
• Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voting.
• Voted for the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405).

“As an independent leader in Congress, my approach will always be guided by the interests of New Jersey families, even when it means standing up to leaders in either party.”

D Democratic Rebecca Bennett

Supports Gateway Tunnel and transit modernization

Bennett prioritizes federal funding for major regional infrastructure, specifically securing one-seat transit rides via the Gateway Tunnel and modernizing air traffic control. She also supports building climate-resilient infrastructure to mitigate storm flooding.

• Fully support funding for the Gateway Tunnel project to provide one-seat rides to New York City.
• Modernize the U.S. air traffic control system to improve aviation efficiency.
• Invest in climate-resilient public works to combat local flooding.

“Modernize our air traffic control system and invest in other key infrastructure upgrades, including the Gateway Tunnel, to ensure one-seat rides and reduced traffic congestion.”

R Republican Thomas Kean Jr.

Supports local project grants and Gateway completion

Kean highlights his position on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and his long-standing work on Port Authority reform. He emphasizes securing $38 million in direct federal funding for local district projects like bridges, roads, and clean water pipes.

• Secured over $38 million in federal community project funding for local roads, bridges, and lead pipe replacements.
• Serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
• Worked on Port Authority reform in the NJ Senate to build the foundation for the Gateway Tunnel.

“These investments have supported public safety departments and efforts through communication upgrades and local infrastructure improvements to roads, sidewalks, and bridges.”

D Democratic Rebecca Bennett

Supports defense modernization and countering China

As a former Navy test pilot, Bennett focuses on preparing the military for emerging threats in cyber warfare, AI, and drones. She identifies China as America's primary long-term strategic threat and insists on keeping the armed forces nonpartisan.

• Modernize Defense Department acquisition for AI, drone, and cyber warfare capabilities.
• Counter China as the primary 50-year strategic threat to global democracy.
• Maintain the armed forces as an apolitical institution and preserve international alliances.

“The use of new and improving technologies, including AI and drones, are only making the world more dangerous. It’s time for Congress to have a new generation of veterans who can speak to national security issues with steady leadership and the experience necessary to help keep America safe.”

R Republican Thomas Kean Jr.

Supports standing with allies Israel and Ukraine

Kean stresses strong U.S. global leadership and backing key democratic allies abroad. Serving on the House Foreign Affairs Committee (previously chairing the Europe subcommittee), he explicitly advocates supporting Israel and Ukraine.

• Serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee (former Europe Subcommittee Chairman).
• Explicitly supports military and diplomatic backing for strategic allies including Israel and Ukraine.

“I am passionate about policies intended to lower the cost of living and improve affordability in New Jersey, supporting U.S. national security interests such as standing with allies like Israel and Ukraine...”

D Democratic Rebecca Bennett

Supports assault weapon bans and police funding

Bennett advocates strict federal gun safety laws, including removing military-style assault weapons from civilian streets and re-imposing silencer taxes. Simultaneously, she supports providing local law enforcement with resources while restoring CDC gun violence research.

• Pass federal assault weapon bans and universal background check reforms.
• Ensure local law enforcement agencies have necessary resources while building community trust.
• Reimplement federal taxes on firearm silencers.
• Restore funding for CDC gun safety research.

“In the Navy, Rebecca operated weapons of war and trained her fellow Sailors how to use them. She knows the purpose they serve and that they should not be on our streets.”

R Republican Thomas Kean Jr.

Supports funding local police and first responders

Kean focuses his public safety record on supporting local police departments, emergency medical technicians, and firefighters. Drawing on his past volunteer experience as a firefighter and EMT, he secures federal grants for local public safety communications and infrastructure.

• Former volunteer firefighter, EMT, and fire department vice president.
• Secured federal community project grants for local police and emergency service communication upgrades.

“These investments have supported public safety departments and efforts through communication upgrades and local infrastructure improvements to roads, sidewalks, and bridges.”

D Democratic Rebecca Bennett

Supports clean energy incentives and water cleanup

Bennett advocates addressing climate change by investing in solar energy, electric vehicles, and grid upgrades to lower costs. She supports enforcing clean air regulations, preserving environmental grants, and filtering lead and forever chemicals from drinking water.

• Protect EPA regulations limiting air and water pollution.
• Upgrade water treatment facilities to remove lead and PFAS forever chemicals.
• Incentivize solar adoption, electric vehicles, and power grid modernization.
• Preserve Superfund cleanup grants and assist small farms facing extreme weather.

“Clean air and clean water are essential to our way of life in New Jersey, but environmental deregulation and defunding threaten our ability to preserve the resources we have.”

R Republican Thomas Kean Jr.

Supports clean water grants and energy innovation

Kean highlights his environmental career start at the EPA under George H.W. Bush and his past sponsorship of New Jersey's 2007 Global Warming Response Act. In Congress, he has secured local funding for lead pipe replacement and stormwater management.

• Began career at the federal EPA; prime sponsor of NJ's 2007 Global Warming Response Act.
• Sponsored state legislation supporting offshore wind development and open space conservation.
• Secured federal project funding for lead line replacement and local stormwater management in NJ-07.

“Protecting the environment has always been a passion for Tom Kean. He began his career in public service working at the Environmental Protection Agency...”

D Democratic Rebecca Bennett

Supports VA healthcare protection and career transition

A Navy veteran of over 15 years, Bennett advocates for smooth civilian transition programs, translating military training into civilian job certifications, and protecting VA health benefits. She also supports expanded PTSD mental health resources and updating legacy VA hospital software.

• Protect VA benefits from budget cuts and update legacy IT systems at VA hospitals.
• Streamline certification pathways converting military experience into civilian credentials.
• Increase funding for veteran mental health services and PTSD treatment.
• Support military spouses facing high unemployment due to frequent relocations.

“Rebecca served in the Navy for over a decade as a helicopter pilot and aircraft commander, and will be a tireless advocate for her fellow veterans and military families in Congress.”

R Republican Thomas Kean Jr.

Supports defense funding and veterans appropriations

Kean supports military servicemembers and veterans through annual authorization and funding legislation. He voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2024 and full-year military construction/veterans appropriations.

• Voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2024.
• Voted for the Continuing Appropriations Act supporting Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (H.R. 5371).

“I am an independent leader standing up for what is right for New Jersey – working to lower the cost of living, protect healthcare, strengthen our communities, and ensure America is strong at home and around the world.”

D Democratic Rebecca Bennett

Supports bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform

Bennett supports working with lawmakers from both parties to pass comprehensive immigration reform that combines border security with practical legal pathways.

• Work across party lines to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

“Work with commonsense lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to find bipartisan solutions to tough challenges, including on immigration reform and trade.”

R Republican Thomas Kean Jr.

Supports stricter border enforcement laws

Kean votes consistently for strict border enforcement and mandatory detention bills in Congress. In 2025, he voted for the Laken Riley Act and legislation making drunk driving grounds for noncitizen deportation.

• Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) requiring detention of unauthorized immigrants arrested for theft crimes.
• Voted for H.R. 875 making driving under the influence grounds for noncitizen deportation.

D Democratic Rebecca Bennett

Supports codifying federal abortion rights

Bennett explicitly supports codifying federal abortion rights and protecting access to reproductive healthcare for women in New Jersey and nationwide.

• Restore a woman's right to choose at the federal level.
• Protect women's reproductive health services from state or federal restrictions.

“Restore a woman’s right to choose at the federal level and ensure that New Jersey women’s reproductive rights and health are not infringed upon.”