Former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) hit the campaign trail Friday night on behalf of Sue Altman, who hopes to beat the man who beat Malinowski.
In a 2022 battle of Toms, now-Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) defeated Malinowski to take over New Jersey’s 7th congressional district. In a Somerville rally Friday night, the former congressman hailed Altman as the right choice to beat Kean, who he called a “national joke.”
Referencing Arrested Development, Malinowski joked that Kean went to a prep school with the motto “Children should neither be seen nor heard.”
“He’s been neither seen nor heard in Washington,” the former congressman said. “He’s been neither seen nor heard in the district, and when Sue Altman is done with him, he will be no more seen or heard than he has been for the last two years, but he’ll be gone.”
The former congressman touted legislation he voted for while in the Democratic House majority, like the American Rescue Plan and the CHIPS and Science Act.
“[Republicans have] got a five-seat majority, and what happened? Nothing, right?” Malinowski said.
Malinowski said the 7th district should hold a special place for Democrats in New Jersey — the presidential race, senate race, and other congressional races are not expected to be competitive, but the campaign between Kean and Altman could prove consequential in terms of control of the House of Representatives.
“We’ve got to focus on the difference that we can make,” Malinowski said. “We’ve got to focus on flipping this seat in the 7th district.”
Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), the Democratic nominee for Senate, also rallied the crowd of about 90 people in Somerville.
“Sue Altman’s doing everything she can,” Kim said. “I can assure you I’m doing everything I can. We’ve got to do our part, each and every one of us, we cannot do this alone.”
Altman also spoke for a few minutes, framing her campaign as a grassroots effort against Kean, who has received millions in outside spending and has held few open events.
“I truly think that what it comes down to is, what sort of representation do we deserve, not just in New Jersey, but all across this country?” Altman said. “Do we deserve a representative who shows up, who talks to the press, who engages with constituents?”